Effecting Factors on Respiratory Symptoms (I)

Investigations with ATS-Questionnaires and Comparison of Self-completion Method to Direct Interview Method

Abstract

Relations between respiratory symptoms and their possible effecting factors of air pollution, smoking, home heating, age and sex, were investigated on 3, 302 inhabitants with the self-completion questionnaires of ATS-DLD. And, 153 persons who showed any respiratory symptoms in answers of the questionnaires were asked again with same questionnaires by direct interview to compare the two methods.
Results are as follows:
1) Self-completion questionnaires
Prevalence rate of persistent cough and/or phlegm and rate of breathlessness were increased by aging. The persistent cough and/or phlegm in males was higher than in females. The rate of persistent cough and/or phlegm in smokers was hihger than that in non-smokers. The rate of persistent cough and/or phlegm and rate of wheezing and/or asthmatic attack increased with number of cigarettes per day. The investigated area was divided into 4 zones, power plant zone, surrounding zone of the plant, urban zone and suburbs. No significant differences of the prevalences were observed. Air pollution levels in these zones are less than the national air quality standards in all items, so it shows the pollution had no effects under the conditions of less than the standard. Relation was found between the rate of respiratory symptom and exhaust from kerosene heater of living room. The rates were 2.21% on chronic bronchitis syndrome (cough and phlegm, consecutively over 3 months/year, over 2 years) and 3.65% on asthmatic attack in group of over 40 years old.
2) Comparison of the self-completion to direct interview
In general, agreements between two methods reached over about 80%. Number of the people who replied with same answer to same question in two methods increased with intensity of the symptom. In smoking and living conditions, the answers were also satisfactorily agreed.