抄録
Prevalence of chronic bronchitis in 13, 846 inhabitants above forty years old in Sakai was surveyed.
This survey was based on questionnaire on each person and 2, 265 persons of them having any respiratory symptomes submitted clinical examinations by the doctors.
The chronic bronchitis was defined as production of sputum and having persistent or recurrent cough for three months or more in at least two consecutive years.
The prevalence increased with age and amount of smoking cigarettes, and these factors was statistically standardized.
The prevalence of chronic bronchitis was 2.0%-5.6% in men and 0.7%-2.5% in women checked-up.
The prevalence was significantly greater in the more polluted area (Sanbo, Eisho, Yuya) than in the less polluted area (Kamiishi, Kanaoka, Hamadera, Nishitoki) indicating that air-pollution (especially SO2 concentration) had significant effect on the incidence of chronic bronchitis.
