Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function in Aborigines from Tropical Western Australia

Abstract

To estimate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, smoking, and atopy in a population of Australians of Aboriginal descent (AAD), to determine the association of these and other factors with lung function, and to compare levels of lung function of AAD with Australians of European descent (AED) according to age and height, and to explore reasons for their differences, we conducted a study of 96 male (41 of whom were under 18 yr of age) and 111 female (48 of whom were under 18 yr of age) AAD living in a single remote tropical community in 1993. This population provided data on age, height, and lung function. A modified British Medical Research Council (MRC) questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and smoking was administered. FEV1, FVC, height, age, and bronchial responsiveness to inhaled methacholine were measured. Atopic status was assessed by skin prick tests for eight common allergens. Age- and sex-adjusted lung function was similar to that of other AAD groups and lower than in AED. For children, lung function increased less with increasing height in AAD than in AED. Lung function was reduced in adult AAD as compared with adult AED, although it was not possible to determine statistically whether lung function started to decline at an earlier age or declined faster with increasing age in AAD. A history of asthma, smoking, dyspnea, cough, or sputum production; atopic status; and increased bronchial responsiveness were all associated with lower levels of lung function. Differences in lung function between AAD and AED appear to be determined by characteristics that may be inherited, as well as by adverse external influences.

High prevalence of asthma in five remote indigenous communities in Australia

“…In an indigenous rural community in Western Australia, BREMNER et al [5] described a high prevalence (24%) of wheeze in female patients v18 yrs of age. WILLIAMS et al [18] reported that in Western Australia, where indigenous status has been collected as part of the hospital record for several years, the admission rate for asthma was higher for indigenous than nonindigenous children (rate ratios for indigenous versus nonindigenous children ranged 1.4 -5.3).…”

“…Specifically in the Torres Strait region, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, VEALE et al [3] found that the overall prevalence of wheeze in the last 12 months in those aged 5 -19 yrs was 4.6%. However, more recent reports from different regions of Australia showed higher prevalences (up to 24%) [5]. Indeed, the team from the Indigenous Health Paediatric Respiratory Outreach Program, as part of their clinical service in the Torres Strait region, diagnosed asthma in many children referred by local health workers [6].…”

A thymic stromal lymphopoietin gene variant is associated with asthma and airway hyperresponsiveness

“…The panel includes a sample of individuals with and without allergy as determined by skin prick tests to common allergens. Methacholine challenge tests using a modification of the Yan method 30 were performed on all participants of the 1994 follow-up survey.…”

Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function of Coke Oven Workers: A Lung Function Surveillance System From 1990???2000

“…The correlation between respiratory symptoms and lung function in asbestos-exposed workers was analyzed by Brodkin et al 7 They found that neither cough nor phlegm could predict the reduction in FEV 1 and FVC, but higher threshold definition of cough or phlegm for at least 3 months per year was found to predict the reduction in FEV 1 and FVC. Bremner et al 19 reported that cough or phlegm lasting for more than three months was associated with lower level of lung function in Australians of Aboriginal and European descent. In our study, the surveillance system did not allow assessment of the duration of respiratory symptoms in each year.…”