The clinical impact of non-obstructive chronic bronchitis in current and former smokers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As the clinical significance of chronic bronchitis among smokers without airflow obstruction is unclear, we sought to determine morbidity associated with this disorder.

Methods

We examined subjects from the COPDGene study and compared those with FEV1/FVC ≥ 0.70, no diagnosis of asthma and chronic bronchitis as defined as a history of cough and phlegm production for ≥ 3 months/year for ≥ 2 years (NCB) to non-obstructed subjects without chronic bronchitis (CB-). Multivariate analysis was used to determine factors associated with and impact of NCB.

Results

We identified 597 NCB and 4283 CB- subjects. NCB participants were younger (55.4 vs. 57.2 years, p < 0.001) with greater tobacco exposure (42.9 vs. 37.8 pack-years, p < 0.001) and more often current smokers;

SUBMITTER: Martinez CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3943716 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature