Miller G J, Ashcroft M T
Thorax. 1971 May;26(3):331-8. doi: 10.1136/thx.26.3.331.
The belief that chronic bronchitis is more prevalent among Indians than Africans in the Caribbean area was investigated by a community survey in Guyana. Respiratory symptoms were assessed by a standard questionnaire, ventilatory capacities were measured, and chest radiographs were taken of some 800 African and Indian men and women aged 35 to 54 years living in adjacent and similar communities. Histories of morning cough, chronic cough, morning phlegm, and chronic phlegm (chronic bronchitis) were more common in Indians than Africans. Although these respiratory symptoms were much more common in smokers than non-smokers, the higher prevalence rates in Indians could not be explained by smoking habits which were similar in the two races. Chronic bronchitis occurred in 17·3% of Indian and 2·4% of African male smokers and in 16·1% and 2·2% of Indian and African female non-smokers respectively. Judging by the history, lung function, and clinical signs, chronic bronchitis was more severe in Indians than Africans. The condition was more common among field labourers on sugar estates but, although the majority of field labourers were Indian, this occupational difference only partially explained the difference in prevalence between Indians and Africans. Indians, for reasons unknown, appear to have a greater susceptibility than Africans to chronic bronchitis.
通过在圭亚那进行的一项社区调查，对慢性支气管炎在加勒比地区印第安人中比非洲人中更普遍这一观点进行了研究。通过一份标准问卷评估呼吸道症状，测量通气能力，并对生活在相邻且相似社区的约800名年龄在35至54岁的非洲和印第安男性及女性进行胸部X光检查。早晨咳嗽、慢性咳嗽、早晨咳痰和慢性咳痰（慢性支气管炎）的病史在印第安人中比非洲人中更为常见。尽管这些呼吸道症状在吸烟者中比不吸烟者中更为常见，但印第安人较高的患病率无法用两个种族相似的吸烟习惯来解释。慢性支气管炎在印度男性吸烟者中占17.3%，在非洲男性吸烟者中占2.4%；在印度女性不吸烟者中占16.1%，在非洲女性不吸烟者中占2.2%。从病史、肺功能和临床体征判断，慢性支气管炎在印第安人中比非洲人中更为严重。这种情况在甘蔗种植园的田间劳动者中更为常见，但是，尽管大多数田间劳动者是印第安人，这种职业差异只能部分解释印第安人和非洲人之间患病率的差异。出于未知原因，印第安人似乎比非洲人更容易患慢性支气管炎。
