PREVALENCE AND MANIFESTATIONS OF OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG-DISEASE IN THE CITY OF OSLO

Abstract

A stratified random sample of 1209 subjects aged 16-69 yr was examined in Oslo, in 1973-1974 by a team of 11 chest physicians. Information from a standardized interview and clinical examination, radiographs and ventilatory function tests were used to make a diagnostic decision. The within-observer agreement for the diagnoses bronchial asthma and the composite group obstructive lung disease (OLD) was 87 and 80%, respectively. More than 80% of maximal between-observer agreement was observed for these 2 entities. The point prevalence estimate of chest physicians'' diagnosis of obstructive lung disease (OLD) was 5.5%, comprising bronchial asthma 1.4% and chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) 4.1%. The prevalence of COLD increased with age; it was 4 times more frequent in smokers/ex-smokers than in nonsmokers. The prevalence of bronchial asthma showed no relation to age or smoking. Individuals aged 20-69 yr with bronchial asthma, COLD and OLD, had 1 s forced expiratory volumes of 83, 71 and 74% of predicted values, respectively. A previous history of hay fever was reported 5 times more frequently by those with bronchial asthma than in the survey population. Disability pension was received by 15% of those with OLD.