title: Respiratory morbidity and lung function in two Aboriginal communities in Western Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine differences in the rates of respiratory symptoms, asthma and levels of lung function in two remote Aboriginal communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Respiratory symptoms, smoking history, skin prick test responses to common allergens, serum IgE, lung function, airway responsiveness to methacholine and white blood cell counts were compared in two Aboriginal communities, one from the central desert (n = 84) and another from the tropical north (n = 209) of Western Australia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the tropical community, chest tightness and dyspnoea were more frequent and forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity were lower in the desert community, despite similar levels of wheeze, doctor-diagnosed asthma and skin prick test responses and lower levels of airway responsiveness and smoking. The total white cell and neutrophil counts were greater in the desert community. Serum IgE was very high and similar in both communities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show a low prevalence of asthma in children, a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms and low levels of lung function in remote Aboriginal communities. The greater prevalence of respiratory morbidity in the desert community was not explained by diagnosed asthma, airway hyperresponsiveness or cigarette smoking. The role of infection requires further investigation. The results suggest that the lower lung function observed in Aboriginal communities (compared with non-Aboriginal communities) results at least partly from environmental factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Marieke W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Verheijden
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ton
authors.forename: Alan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: A William
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Musk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003889:Desert Climate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology