Prevalence of respiratory symptoms in an unpolluted area of northern Italy.
Using a multistage stratified geographic cluster sample of households living in an unpolluted area of Northern Italy (near Venice), we enrolled 3289 inhabitants (aged 8-64 yr) for a longitudinal respiratory study. During the first cross-sectional survey, before the start of operation of a large oil-burning thermoelectric power plant, they completed a standardized administered questionnaire and performed several lung function tests. In the whole sample, dyspnoea grade 1 (11%), chronic cough and chronic phlegm (9%) were the most frequent respiratory symptoms; all the symptoms except dyspnoea were more prevalent in males than in females. Smokers (S) showed higher prevalence rates than ex-smokers (ES) and nonsmokers (NS), especially in males. In both sexes, the frequency of respiratory symptoms increased with increasing smoking as assessed by pack-years. An inverse relationship between prevalence of symptoms and socio-economic status was also observed. All tests of lung function were significantly impaired in S compared with NS in males; single-breath CO diffusing capacity and slope of alveolar plateau but not spirometric indices were significantly impaired in female S compared to female ES and NS. Finally, our prevalence rates were lower than in other epidemiological surveys: this result may be ascribed to the low levels of air pollution measured in the area.
Viegi
G
G
CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, University of Pisa, Italy.
Paoletti
P
P
Prediletto
R
R
Carrozzi
L
L
Fazzi
P
P
Di Pede
F
F
Pistelli
G
G
Giuntini
C
C
Lebowitz
M D
MD
D000367:Age Factors; D000397:Air Pollution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires