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Table 3 Likelihood of respiratory symptoms a by lung function category

From: Pulmonary function, chronic respiratory symptoms, and health-related quality of life among adults in the United States – National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2010

 

%b(95% CI)

Adjusted PRc(95% CI)

Frequent cough

   

  Normal lung function

8.6 (7.1-10.3)

1.00

  --

  Restrictive impairment

13.0 (8.9-18.7)

1.12

(0.75-1.66)

  Mild obstruction

9.3 (6.4-13.2)

0.83

(0.53-1.29)

  Moderate–severe obstruction

24.2 (18.7-30.7)

1.63

(1.20-2.20)

Frequent phlegm

   

  Normal lung function

5.9 (5.2-6.8)

1.00

  --

  Restrictive impairment

10.0 (6.4-15.3)

1.14

(0.72-1.81)

  Mild obstruction

9.1 (6.0-13.6)

1.21

(0.76-1.93)

  Moderate–severe obstruction

19.8 (14.5-26.4)

1.99

(1.31-3.03)

Wheeze

   

  Normal lung function

10.2 (9.0-11.5)

1.00

  --

  Restrictive impairment

18.5 (13.7-24.6)

1.36

(0.99-1.87)

  Mild obstruction

11.8 (8.7-15.7)

1.23

(0.89-1.71)

  Moderate–severe obstruction

31.9 (25.8-38.8)

2.65

(2.04-3.43)

Any respiratory symptoms

   

  Normal lung function

17.1 (15.1-19.3)

1.00

  --

  Restrictive impairment

29.0 (23.8-34.8)

1.32

(1.06-1.63)

  Mild obstruction

19.9 (15.8-24.8)

1.06

(0.81-1.38)

  Moderate–severe obstruction

47.4 (39.9-55.0)

2.10

(1.69-2.60)

  1. a Respiratory symptoms included the following: cough most days (at least 3 months), bring up phlegm most days (at least 3 months), or had wheeze or whistle in chest (in past 12 months).
  2. b Unadjusted.
  3. c Adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) obtained from multivariable logistic regression that included sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, number of non-respiratory chronic illnesses, smoking status, and BMI as covariates.