Chronic respiratory disease in the elderly. A population study

Abstract

A study has been made of chronic respiratory disease among 83 men and 217 women aged 65 and over, randomly chosen from those living in their own homes. Twenty-six per cent of the men and 13% of the women had chronic bronchitis. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis was related to current cigarette smoking in both sexes, and to socio-economic status in men. Chronic bronchitis was a contributory cause of disabling dyspnoea and recurrent chest illness in half of the subjects with these symptoms.

Significant radiological evidence of tuberculosis was found in 9% of men and in 4% of women, asthma in 2% of women, industrial lung disease in 4% of men, and bronchogenic carcinoma in three subjects.