Background: Respiratory ageing raises for the epidemiologists many questions still unsolved by clinical and physiological approaches: prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases, consequences on autonomy, risk factors. This paper aims to provide some responses based on a wide sample of elderly people: the PAQUID cohort.
Method: PAQUID is a cohort of 3777 dwellers representative of the population aged 65 and over in two administrative areas of south-western France. The study is based on general variables as well as specific variables identifying dyspnea, asthma, chronic bronchitis and their risk factors. Disability was measured using specific scales. Mortality is registered during the follow-up.
Results: Twenty-five percent of subjects had a dyspnea for minor efforts (level 3 and over). There was a significant relationship between dyspnea and disability levels for basic and instrumental activities of daily living. Mortality rate was significantly associated to dyspnea level of the subjects at inclusion in the cohort, especially in men, even taking into account other mortality related risk factors (sex, smoking, occupation). 6.1% of the subjects reported symptoms of asthma. But only 2.5% reported symptoms in the twelve last months. The follow-up has shown new asthma cases among symptom-free subjects at the beginning of the survey. Previous occupation especially agricultural (pesticides exposition), and industrial activity, smoking and allergy may be considered as the main respiratory risk factors.
Conclusion: These data provide more knowledge of some aspects of respiratory ageing. The results allowed to evaluate associated morbidity, to determine risk factors and to measure its impact on disability and mortality. Such information may be useful for prevention of respiratory related disability.