THE CHILLIWACK RESPIRATORY SURVEY, 1963: 3. THE PREVALENCE OF RESPIRATORY DISEASE IN A RURAL CANADIAN TOWN

Abstract

The prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and of abnormalities in pulmonary function was determined by a survey of persons, aged 25 to 74, residing during May and June 1963 in a rural town, Chilliwack, B.C. Morning phlegm was reported by 26% of men and 13% of women. Chronic bronchitis was considered present in 21.5% of men and 11.3% of women. More serious obstructive lung disease, not related to heart disease, was found in 12.6% of men and 8.7% of women. These prevalences were higher than those found by the authors at Berlin, New Hampshire, U.S.A., in 1961. Demographic factors, such as birthplace, occupational class and measures of social stability, were not related to the prevalence of respiratory disease at Chilliwack. Some observer variation was found after analysis to be the result of non-randomization of respondents among the observers. An incidental observation was a high prevalence at Chilliwack of heart disease and hypertension under treatment.