Elsevier

Respiratory Medicine

Volume 98, Issue 10, October 2004, Pages 1025-1033
Respiratory Medicine

Relations between respiratory symptoms and spirometric values in young adults: the European community respiratory health study

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Abstract

We aim to assess whether respiratory symptoms are associated with lung function in young adults, and whether any such relation is similar in those with asthma, in men and women, and in different countries. Study participants (aged 20–44 years) were randomly selected from the general population in 35 centres in 15 countries as part of the European Community Respiratory Health Study. In all, 12,541 subjects (47%) completed a respiratory symptoms questionnaire and spirometry, metacholine challenge and immunoglobulin E tests. Indicators of diagnosed asthma showed the largest association with airways obstruction (FEV1—maximal 1-s forced expiratory volume/forced vital capacity—FVC<70%), followed by symptoms of wheezing or shortness of breath, in both genders. Among the 96% of subjects whose FEV1/FVC ratios were greater or equal to 70%, wheezing or shortness of breath was associated with lower FEV1 levels (−211 ml in men and −169 ml in women (P<0.01)), independent of diagnosed asthma, smoking, atopy or bronchial responsiveness. This association was not explained by a lower FVC. Symptoms of chronic bronchial mucus hypersecretion (chronic phlegm) were unrelated to both airways obstruction and FEV1 levels. Findings were homogeneous across all centres. These results suggest that lung diseases that cause wheezing are generally associated with impaired lung function.

Keywords

Asthma
Bronchial obstruction
Factor analysis
FEV1
FVC
Lung function
Respiratory symptoms
Wheezing

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The principal participants of the ECRHS study are: Co-ordinating Centre (London): P. Burney, S. Chinn, C. Luczynska, D. Jarvis, E. Lai; Australia: M. Abramson, J. Kutin (Melbourne); Belgium: P. Vermeire, F. van Bastelaer (Antwerp South, Antwerp Central); France: J. Bousquet (Montpellier), F. Neukirch, R. Liard (Paris) I. Pin, C Pison (Grenoble) A. Taytard (Bordeaux); Germany: H. Magnussen, D. Nowak (Hamburg); H.E. Wichmann, J. Heinrich (Erfurt); Iceland: T. Gislason, D. Gislason (Reykjavik); Ireland: J. Prichard, S Allwright, D. MacLeod (Dublin); Italy: M. Bugiani, C. Bucca, C. Romano (Turin) R. de Marco, V. Lo Cascio, C. Campello (Verona), A. Marinoni, I. Cerveri, L. Casali (Pavia); Netherlands: B. Rijcken, A. Kremer (Groningen, Bergen-op-Zoom, Geleen); New Zealand: J. Crane, S. Lewis (Wellington, Christchurch, Hawkes Bay); Norway: A. Gulsvik, E. Omenaas (Bergen); Spain: J. Antó, J. Sunyer, A. Jaen, J. Roca, M. Kogevinas (Barcelona) N. Muniozguren, I. Urrutia, A. Capelastegui (Galdakao) J. Martinez-Moratalla, E. Almar (Albacete) J. Maldonado, A. Pereira, J. Sánchez (Huelva) F. Payo, I. Huerta (Oviedo); Sweden: G. Boman, C. Janson, E. Bjornsson (Uppsala) L. Rosenhall, E. Norrman, B. Lundback (Umea) N. Lindholm, P. Plaschke (Goteborg); Switzerland: U. Ackermann-Liebrich, N. Künzli, A. Perruchoud (Basel); United Kingdom: M. Burr, J. Layzqll (Caerphilly), R. Hall (Ipswich), B. Harrison (Norwich), J. Stark (Cambridge); USA: S. Buist, W. Vollmer, M. Osborne (Portland).