Respiratory symptoms and lung function in aborigines from tropical westernAustralia

To estimate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, branchial hyperresponsi veness, smoking, and atopy In a population of Australians of Aboriginal des cent (AAD), to determine the association of these and other factors with lu ng function, and to compare levels of lung function of AAD with Australians of European descent (AED) according to age and height, and to explore reas ons far their differences, we conduced a study of 96 male (41 of whom were under 18 yr of age) and 111 female (48 of whom were under 18 yr of age) AAD living in a single remote tropical community in 1993, This population prov ided data on age, height, and lung function. A modified British Medical Res earch Council (MRC) questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and smoking was a dministered. FEV1, FVC, height, age, and branchial responsiveness to inhale d methacholine were measured. Atopic status was assessed by skin prick test s for eight common allergens. Age- and sex-adjusted lung function was simil ar to that of other AAD groups and Lower than in AED. For children, lung fu nction increased less with increasing height In AAD than in AED. Lung funct ion was reduced in adult AAD as compared with adult AED, although it was no t possible to determine statistically whether lung function started to decl ine at an earlier age or declined faster with increasing age in AAD. A hist ory of asthma, smoking, dyspnea, cough, or sputum production; atopic status ; and increased branchial responsiveness were all associated with lower lev els of lung function. Differences in lung function between AAD and AED appe ar to be determined by characteristics that may be inherited, as well as by adverse external influences.