title: [Chronic cough in the elderly is associated with expiratory flow limitation].
abstract: As chronic respiratory symptoms and the presence of expiratory flow limitation (EFL) are commonly reported in the elderly, we investigated whether they were associated in a population of 75 years old volunteers. We analyzed the results of a prevalence survey of chronic respiratory symptoms and respiratory infections, and performed spirometry and measured EFL after application of a negative expiratory pressure at the mouth (NEP). EFL was present in 170 (46%) subjects, a chronic cough in 49 (13%), chronic sputum in 58 (29%) and a history of respiratory infection in 62 (17%). Chronic cough and the composite outcome "chronic cough or sputum" were significantly associated with the presence of EFL (respectively 60% vs. 43%, OR=2.04 [1.09 to 3.78], P=0.023, and 56% vs. 43%, OR=1.74 [1.05 to 2.87], P=0.04), after controlling for smoking or airway obstruction. History of respiratory infections were not associated with an increased prevalence of EFL. We concluded that the presence of a LED could be an interesting indicator of respiratory aging. Its detection could be advocated in elderly subjects presenting with respiratory symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie et oncologie thoracique, CHU de Saint-Étienne, 42055 Saint-Étienne, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frappé
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gautier-Guillot
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Barthélémy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maudoux
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Costes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000503:physiopathology*; D045853:Exhalation; D006801:Humans; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires