THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF AIRWAYS RESPONSIVENESS

吸烟被公认为是最重要的因素， 慢性气流阻塞的发展，但只有少数 吸烟者患上临床疾病。 最近，人们对 重点关注气道反应性和特应性水平增加的作用， 作为慢性气流发展的可能增强因素 梗阻 目前的流行病学研究只有其中一种的数据 潜在的风险因素或太小，无法充分解决问题 涉案 本研究将评估两个气道的反应性 （通过对乙酰甲胆碱吸入的反应测量）和特应性（通过 皮肤试验、血嗜酸性粒细胞增多症和血清IgE）。 成年男性 这项研究使用的人口和数据库的VA规范老化研究 (NAS)始于1963年。 人口超过1900人 最初选择健康。 NAS目前管理一个 吸烟史，NBLBI-ATS呼吸道症状 问卷调查和定期检查时的肺功能测定，3年 apart. 我们将评估800名参与者的气道反应性和特应性 在接下来的两次考试中 这些数据将用于 探讨气道反应性、特应性与吸烟的关系 吸烟对呼吸道症状和肺功能的影响 横截面和纵向。 这项拟议中的研究将是唯一一项拥有这两方面数据的调查 大量受试者的气道反应性和特应性。 一 这两个潜在风险因素的前瞻性评价，沿着 吸烟，将建立这些相对重要性 在慢性气流阻塞的生产变量。

Cigarette smoking is recognized as the most important factor in the development of chronic airflow obstruction, yet only a minority of cigarette smokers develop clinical disease. Recently, interest has been focused on the role of increased levels of airways responsiveness and atopy as possible potentiating factors for the development of chronic airflow obstruction. Current epidemiologic studies have data on only one of these potential risk factors or are too small to adequately address the issues involved. The present study will assess both airways responsiveness (measured by response to methacholine inhalation) and atopy (measured by skin test, blood eosinophilia, and Serum IgE) in an existing cohort of adult males. The study uses the population and data base of the VA Normative Aging Study (NAS) which was begun in 1963. The population consists of over 1900 men originally selected for good health. The NAS currently administers a cigarette smoking history, the NBLBI-ATS respiratory symptoms questionnaire, and spirometry at regularly scheduled examinations, 3 years apart. We will assess airways responsiveness and atopy in 800 participants when they return for their next two examinations. These data will be used to examine the relationship of airways responsiveness, atopy and cigarette smoking to respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The proposed study would be the only investigation to have data on both airways responsiveness and atopy on a sizeable cohort of subjects. A prospective evaluation of these two potential risk factors, along with cigarette smoking, would establish the relative importance of these variables in the production of chronic airflow obstruction.