Prevalence of left-handedness among patients with different respiratory diseases.

We investigated the prevalence of left-handedness among patients with different respiratory diseases. Hand preference was assessed using the modified Edinburg Handedness Inventory. There was a statistically significant decline in left-handedness with shortened life span in patients. Difference among the rates of left-handedness in different pulmonary diseases was significant. The rate of left-handedness was lowest in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2.14%) and pneumonia (2.04%) and highest in patients with asthma (12.96%). The results suggest that left-handed subjects may be protected from certain pulmonary diseases while being more susceptible to others.