Prevalence of self-reported respiratory symptoms in rural areas of Iran in 2000.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of the present study were to measure the population prevalence of symptoms of asthma, chronic bronchitis, obstructive lung disease and non-specific respiratory symptoms in randomly selected rural communities in south-west Isfahan, Iran.


METHODS
Nine hundred and ninety-four subjects from a total of 1127 villagers (88.2% response rate) took part in a medical interview conducted by interns from the Isfahan Medical School.


RESULTS
The mean (+/-SD) age of the population surveyed was 25.21 +/- 17.55 years and the smoking rate was 7.2%. The self-reported prevalence rates for current asthma, chronic bronchitis, non-specific exercise-induced cough and night cough were 6.1, 4.4, 13.3 and 11.3%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Asthma, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory disorders in rural Isfahan are more prevalent than expected for a young rural population with low smoking rates. The cause of this should be investigated.
Golshan
Mohammad
M
Division of Pulmonary Medicine, St Zahra Medical Center, Isfahan, Iran. golshan@medscape.com
Esteki
Behnoosh
B
Dadvand
Payam
P
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012424:Rural Population