title: Distribution of bronchial responsiveness in a general population: effect of sex, age, smoking, and level of pulmonary function.
abstract: Bronchial responsiveness (BR) was assessed by the methacholine challenge test in 1,694 subjects from a sample of the general population (aged 8 to 73 yr) enrolled in a prospective epidemiologic study on the natural history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Information on respiratory symptoms and risk factors for COPD were obtained with a standardized questionnaire. The provocative dose causing a 10%, 15%, and 20% decrease in FEV1 was reached in 939 (55%), 658 (39%), and 447 (26%) subjects, respectively, after the last cumulative dose of methacholine (i.e., 4.8 mg). The slope of the dose-response curve was also computed in order to attribute a parameter to subjects who did not reach the provocative dose. After natural log transformation, the slope (Ln Slope) of the curve showed a significant association with the degree of airway obstruction, as assessed by FEV1% predicted, FEV1/VC%, and FEV1/FVC%. Therefore, relationships between BR, sex, age, and smoking were evaluated after adjustments for the initial airway caliber (FEV1, FEV1 adjusted for height, and FEV1/VC%). Females showed significantly higher values of Ln Slope than did males after adjustments were made for baseline lung function. In males, higher BR was observed in childhood-adolescence age groups and at older ages, while in females a higher level of BR was observed during childhood. Significantly higher Ln Slope values were found for females who currently smoked than for non- and ex-smokers. No difference was observed in males in relation to smoking habit. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paoletti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carrozzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Viegi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Modena
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ballerin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Pede
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grado
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baldacci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pedreschi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vellutini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012424:Rural Population; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D016210:Methacholine Chloride