Faculty of Medicine, Balamand University, and St George Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon.
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2012;7:577-85. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S35044. Epub 2012 Sep 7.
Our objective was to assess the prevalence of chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their correlates among a Lebanese nonsmoker group.
A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2009 and September 2010, using a multistage cluster sample throughout Lebanon including Lebanese residents aged 40 years and above with no exclusion criteria. Pre- and postbronchodilator spirometry measurements were performed and carbon monoxide level was measured in exhaled air. COPD was defined and classified according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines or according to the lower limit of normal (forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity postbronchodilator < 5th percentile of the healthy population having the same age and sex). Chronic bronchitis was defined by the declaration of morning cough and expectorations for more than 3 months a year over more than 2 years in individuals with normal spirometry.
Out of 2201 individuals, 732 were never-smokers: 25 (3.4%) of them had COPD, and 86 (11.75%) fulfilled the definition of chronic bronchitis. Correlates of COPD included a childhood respiratory disease, house heated by diesel, and older age. On the other hand, correlates of chronic bronchitis included childhood respiratory diseases, living in southern Lebanon versus other regions, heating home by gas, older age, number of smokers at work, and lower height.
A substantial percentage of the nonsmoking population may exhibit chronic bronchitis or COPD. The significant correlates mentioned above should be taken into consideration in order to reduce the risk of developing such chronic and debilitating respiratory diseases.
我们的目的是评估在黎巴嫩非吸烟者人群中慢性支气管炎和慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）的患病率及其相关因素。
这是一项 2009 年 10 月至 2010 年 9 月进行的横断面研究，在黎巴嫩各地采用多阶段聚类抽样方法，包括年龄在 40 岁及以上的黎巴嫩居民，没有排除标准。进行支气管扩张剂前和后肺活量测定，并测量呼气空气中的一氧化碳水平。COPD 根据全球慢性阻塞性肺疾病倡议的指南定义和分类，或根据正常下限（支气管扩张剂后 1 秒用力呼气量/用力肺活量<同年龄和性别的健康人群的第 5 百分位数）进行定义和分类。慢性支气管炎通过在正常肺活量的个体中每年有 3 个月以上每天早晨咳嗽和咳痰超过 2 年来定义。
在 2201 名个体中，732 名从未吸烟：其中 25 名（3.4%）患有 COPD，86 名（11.75%）符合慢性支气管炎的定义。COPD 的相关因素包括儿童时期的呼吸道疾病、使用柴油取暖以及年龄较大。另一方面，慢性支气管炎的相关因素包括儿童时期的呼吸道疾病、居住在黎巴嫩南部而不是其他地区、使用天然气取暖、年龄较大、工作中有吸烟者以及身高较低。
相当比例的非吸烟人群可能患有慢性支气管炎或 COPD。应考虑上述重要的相关因素，以降低发生这些慢性和使人虚弱的呼吸道疾病的风险。
