ASSOCIATION OF CHRONIC MUCUS HYPERSECRETION WITH FEV(1) DECLINE AND CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE MORBIDITY

The aim of this study was to examine the association between chronic m ucus hypersecretion, and FEV(1) decline, and subsequent hospitalizatio n from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We used data from The Copenhagen City Heart Study on 5,354 women and 4,081 men 30 to 79 yr of age with assessment of smoking habits, respiratory symptoms, an d spirometry at two surveys 5 yr apart. Information on COPD hospitaliz ation during 8 to 10 yr of subsequent follow-up was obtained from a na tionwide register. Chronic mucus hypersecretion was significantly asso ciated with FEV(1) decline; the effect was most prominent among men, w here chronic mucus hypersecretion at both surveys was associated with an excess FEV(1) decline of 22.8 ml/yr (95% confidence interval, 8.2 t o 37.4) compared with men without mucus hypersecretion, after adjustin g for age, height, weight change, and smoking; in women, the excess de cline was 12.6 ml/yr (0.7-24.6). Chronic mucus hypersecretion was asso ciated with subsequent hospitalization due to COPD after adjusting for age and smoking; relative risk was 5.3 (2.9 to 9.6) among men and 5.1 (2.5 to 10.3) among women. After further adjusting for FEV(1) at the second survey, the relative risk was reduced to 2.4 (1.3 to 4.5) for m en and 2.6 (1.2 to 5.3) for women. Chronic mucus hypersecretion was si gnificantly and consistently associated with both an excess FEV(1) dec line and an increased risk of subsequent hospitalization because of CO PD.