title: Prevalence of chronic respiratory disorders in a rural area of North West India: A population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic respiratory diseases are an important cause of disability across the globe. The global burden of these diseases is showing a discernible upward trend. It is estimated that 500 million people suffer from them.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted with the aim to estimate the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a rural Indian population. For this, a population-based survey was conducted using modified British Medical Research Council questionnaire. This was followed by subjecting the respondents to Wright's mini peak flow meter to find out the peak expiratory flow rate to diagnose the COPD cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and COPD was found to be 3.36%, 1.18%, and 4.21%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic respiratory disorders are more prevalent among rural adults hinting to a rural-urban divide. Therefore, the focus of preventive strategies should take into account this difference.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Vinod
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Rajiv Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, CMCH, Pathankot, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Jamwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Dr. RPGMC, Tanda, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Sunil Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Raina
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Bhavana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Rashmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumari
keywords: Chronic respiratory disorders; North West India; prevalence