RESPIRATORY ABNORMALITIES, SMOKING-HABITS AND VENTILATORY CAPACITY IN A HIGHLAND COMMUNITY IN PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA - PREVALENCE AND EFFECT ON MORTALITY

Anderson H R [Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Social Medicine, St George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 ORE]. Respiratory abnormalities, smoking habits and ventilatory capacity in a highland community in Papua New Guinea: prevalance and effect on mortality. International Journal of Epidemiology 1979, 8: 127-135.The prevalence of chronic lung disesase was investigated in 1284 adult residents of 11 villages situated at 1800 m in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Chronic cough, shortness of breath on exertion, bronchial hypersecretion, and adventitious chest sounds were increasingly common in both sexes from middle life onwards, and were associated with an irreversible obstructive ventilatory defect. Over the age of 45 years, 20% of men and 10% of women had an FEV, /FVC % less than 60%. The prevalence of active asthma was 0.25%. The smoking of home-grown, air-cured tobacco was not associated with chronic respiratory symptoms or reduction of ventilatory capacity. Smoking was, however, associated with recent cough symptom, bronchial hypersecretion and adventitiae. Mortality over the subsequent 5 years was increased 2/3 fold in those with adventitiae, but was not related to smoking status. The aetiological relevance of wood smoke in the houses and acute chest infections remains to be clarified. © 1979 Oxford University Press.