Respiratory infections and lung function in an Australian Aboriginal community.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between serological evidence of past infections with common respiratory pathogens and lung function in members of an isolated community of Aborigines from tropical coastal north-western Australia.


METHODS
FEV(1) and FVC were assessed by dry bellows spirometer. Serum IgG titres to 11 common respiratory pathogens were assayed. Smoking history was assessed by questionnaire. Reciprocal positive IgG titres were taken as >or=10 for all pathogens with the exception of Legionella spp. (>or=40) and Burkholderia pseudomallei (>or=20). Linear regression analysis examined associations between titres and lung function after adjustment for age, height, gender and smoking, separately for adults (age > 17 years) and children.


RESULTS
An increased total number of positive IgG titres was significantly associated with reduced FEV(1) (P = 0.01) and FEV(1)/FVC ratio (P = 0.01) suggesting the presence of airflow obstruction. This association was independent of age, gender, height, weight and smoking status.


CONCLUSIONS
The burden of past respiratory infections may be an important determinant of airway function in this Aboriginal community.
Musk
A W Bill
AW
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia. bill.musk@health.wa.gov.au
James
Alan L
AL
Palmer
Lyle J
LJ
Ryan
Gerard F
GF
Lake
Fiona
F
Golledge
Clayton L
CL
De Klerk
Nicholas H
NH
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D014904:Western Australia