Abstract
Prevalance of chronic bronchitis in 10, 026 postmen in Tokyo, Kanagawa and Saitama districts was surveyd. This survey was based on questionnaire on each person and on check-up by the doctors.
The chronic bronchitis was defined as production of sputum and having persistent or recurrent cough for one month or more in at least two consecutive years.
The over-all prevalance of chronic broncitis was 4.1 % in men and 3.5% in women checked-up.
The prevalance increased with age and amount of cigarette smoking, and was greater in those persons who have history of chronic sinuitis or asthma.
There was no difference in the prevalance between non-smoking men and women.
The prevalance was significantly greater in the most polluted area (the central part of Tokyo, Kawasaki and Tsurumi, 5.1%) than in the least polluted area (the west of Kanagawa and Saitama, 2.6%), indicating that air-pollution has significant effect on the incidence of chronic bronchitis.
