The 1998 Quebec Health and Social Survey: various determinants of chronic repiratory diseases

In the course of the "1998 Health and Social Survey", questions were includ ed to verify the prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases and also of whe ezing. The objectives of this study were 1) to verify, the prevalence of wh eezing and its,; validity as an indicator of chronic respiratory diseases i n Quebec; and 2) to examine the relationship between chronic respiratory di seases and some of their potential determinants. A total of 30,386 individu als participated in the study. For all ages, die prevalence of wheezing was 5.4%. It was associated with asthma, allergies, chronic bronchitis and emp hysema. A low familial income and tobacco smoking were associated,with whee zing, asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Passive smoking was associa ted with wheezing whereas the presence of carpets was associated with wheez ing and asthma. Between 32 and 48% of families with an asthmatic or an alle rgic member modified their dwelling to alleviate respiratory problems. The prevalence of wheezing documented here was lower than in anglosaxon countri es. This result could be explained by a cultural factor (the French transla tion or perception of wheezing) This study emphasizes the role of reducing tobacco smoking in the prevention of chronic respiratory diseases.