EPIDEMIOLOGIC ASPECTS OF RESPIRATORY AGIN G - DATA OF PAQUID SURVEY

Background : Respiratory ageing raises for the epidemiologists many qu estions still unsolved by clinical and physiological approaches: preva lence of chronic respiratory diseases, consequences on autonomy, risk factors. This paper aims to provide some responses based on a wide sam ple 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 me asured using specific scales. Mortality is registered during the follo w-up. Results : Twenty-five percent of subjects had a dyspnea for mino r efforts (level 3 and over). There was a significant relationship bet ween dyspnea and disability levels for basic and instrumental activiti es of daily living. Mortality rate was significantly associated to dys pnea level of the subjects at inclusion in the cohort, especially in m en, even taking into account other mortality related risk factors (sex , smoking, occupation). 6.1 % of the subjects reported symptoms of ast hma. But only 2.5 % reported symptoms in the twelve last months. The f ollow-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 : T hese data provide more knowledge of some aspects of respiratory ageing . The results allowed to evaluate associated morbidity, to determine r isk factors and to measure its impact on disability and mortality. Suc h information may be useful for prevention of respiratory related disa bility.