The relevance in adults of air-flow obstruction, but not of mucus hypersecretion, to mortality from chronic lung disease. Results from 20 years of prospective observation.

摘要: From 1954 to 1961, pulmonary function was assessed in 2,718 British men by forced expiratory maneuvers, and mucus hypersecretion smoking habits were questionnaires. In 20 25 yr of follow-up, 104 (all whom had smoked) died chronic obstructive disease (COPD). The risk death from COPD strongly correlated with the initial degree air-flow obstruction. Among similar obstruction, however, age-specific rates not significantly related hypersecretion, supporting concept that obstruction are largely independent processes. A moderate relationship existed between subsequent lung cancer mortality, but it is known whether this due solely a common correlation both conditions effective exposure large bronchi causative factors such as tobacco smoke.