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We studied the prevalence, burden and potential risk factors for chronic bronchitis symptoms in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study.Representative population-based samples of adults aged ≥40 years were selected in participating sites. Participants completed questionnaires and spirometry. Chronic bronchitis symptoms were defined as chronic cough and phlegm on most days for ≥3 months each year for ≥2 years.Data from 24 855 subjects from 33 sites in 29 countries were analysed. There were significant differences in the prevalence of self-reported symptoms meeting our definition of chronic bronchitis across sites, from 10.8% in Lexington (KY, USA), to 0% in Ile-Ife (Nigeria) and Blantyre (Malawi). Older age, less education, current smoking, occupational exposure to fumes, self-reported diagnosis of asthma or lung cancer and family history of chronic lung disease were all associated with increased risk of chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis symptoms were associated with worse lung function, more dyspnoea, increased risk of respiratory exacerbations and reduced quality of life, independent of the presence of other lung diseases.The prevalence of chronic bronchitis symptoms varied widely across the studied sites. Chronic bronchitis symptoms were associated with significant burden both in individuals with chronic airflow obstruction and those with normal lung function.

Introduction. There is a paucity of population-based data on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence in Poland. To address this problem we participated in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) Initiative which was developed to provide standardized methods for estimating the prevalence of COPD and its risk factors. Objectives. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of COPD and some of its risk factors in adults aged 40 years and older in the Malopolska region in southern Poland. Patients and methods. Region-representative sample was drawn, basing on the current census data. Detailed BOLD questionnaires as well as pre-and post-bronchodilatator spirometry were applied to eligible individuals. Results. Six hundred and three subjects provided questionnaire and spirometry data; of those 526 provided spirometry data of appropriate quality and were included in the final analysis. Estimated population prevalence of COPD was 22.1%, whereas 10.9% had COPD in GOLD Stage ≥2. COPD was far more common in men and its prevalence increased with age and exposure to tobacco smoke, and was inversely related to education level. The prevalence of current tobacco smoking was 28% (34% and 22% in men and women, respectively). Seventy-nine percent of men and 42% of women were ever-smokers. Twenty-nine percent of never smoking individuals were passively exposed to tobacco smoke in their households. Conclusions. Our results confirm the high prevalence of COPD in the studied region of Poland and emphasize the need to increase efforts to improve COPD awareness and limit tobacco smoking habit.

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Background: Induced sputum (IS) allows to measure mediators of asthmatic inflammation in bronchial secretions. NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD) is recognized as a distinct asthma phenotype, usually with a severe course, eosinophilic airway inflammation, and increased production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids. A more insightful analysis of NERD patients has shown this phenotype to be nonhomogeneous. Objective:We aimed to identify possible subphenotypes in a cohort of NERD patients with the means of latent class analysis (LCA).Methods: A total of 95 asthma patients with aspirin hypersensitivity underwent sputum induction. High-performance liquid chromatography or gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used to profile eicosanoids in induced sputum supernatant (ISS). Sixteen variables covering clinical characteristics, IS inflammatory cells, and eicosanoids were considered in the LCA.Results: Three classes (subphenotypes) were distinguished within the NERD cohort.Class 1 subjects had mild-to-moderate asthma, an almost equal distribution of inflammatory cell patterns, the lowest concentrations of eicosanoids, and logLTE 4 /logPGE 2 ratio. Class 2 represented severe asthma with impaired lung function despite high doses of steroids. High sputum eosinophilia was in line with higher pro-inflammatory LTE 4 in ISS and the highest logLTE 4 /logPGE 2 ratio. Class 3 subjects had mild-to-moderate asthma and were also characterized by eosinophilic airway inflammation, yet increased production of pro-(LTE 4 , PGD 2 and 11-dehydro-TBX 2 ) was balanced by