Prevalence of respiratory symptoms in an unpolluted area of northern Italy.

摘要: Using a multistage stratified geographic cluster sample of households living in an unpolluted area Northern Italy (near Venice), we enrolled 3289 inhabitants (aged 8-64 yr) for longitudinal respiratory study. During the first cross-sectional survey, before start operation large oil-burning thermoelectric power plant, they completed standardized administered questionnaire and performed several lung function tests. In whole sample, dyspnoea grade 1 (11%), chronic cough phlegm (9%) were most frequent symptoms; all symptoms except more prevalent males than females. Smokers (S) showed higher prevalence rates ex-smokers (ES) nonsmokers (NS), especially males. both sexes, frequency increased with increasing smoking as assessed by pack-years. An inverse relationship between socio-economic status was also observed. All tests significantly impaired S compared NS males; single-breath CO diffusing capacity slope alveolar plateau but not spirometric indices female to ES NS. Finally, our lower other epidemiological surveys: this result may be ascribed low levels air pollution measured area.