Prevalence of Chronic Bronchitis in the Northwest of Iran: Results of the Pilot Phase of the Azar Cohort Study

Background and aims: Although chronic bronchitis is markedly under-diagnosed in the generalpopulation, it has a significant impact on the health status and the well-being of patients as well ashealthcare resource consumption. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic bronchitisand its correlates in the northwest of Iran.Methods: In ۲۰۱۴, all residents aged ۳۵ and over in Khameneh city, East Azerbaijan, were invited toparticipate in the pilot phase of the Azar cohort study. The respiratory symptoms questionnaires werefilled out by two trained general practitioners. Participants with a cough and phlegm on most daysduring at least three successive months in the previous two years were classified as chronic bronchitisgroup. Chi-square test was used to compare the chronic bronchitis and smoking status between malesand females.Results: A total of ۱۰۳۶ participants were interviewed, ۱۰۰۶ of whom had completed a respiratoryquestionnaire, from them ۵۴۴ (۵۴.۱%) were females, and ۴۶۲ (۴۵.۹%) were males. The mean agewas ۵۲.۵ ± ۱۰.۵ years. The prevalence of smoking was ۱۶.۲%. According to the chronic bronchitisdefinition, ۲۴ (۲.۴%) subjects were classified with chronic bronchitis, and the prevalence was higherin the males (۴.۱%) than that in the females (۰.۹%). The prevalence was higher among the activesmokers and ex-smokers compared to non- smokers (۸.۶% and ۴.۱% vs. ۰.۸%). The prevalence ofcigarette smoking was ۱۶.۲% and it was higher in the males than that in the females (۳۳.۵% vs. ۱.۵%).Conclusion: the prevalence of chronic bronchitis in the population of the region under study wasrelatively low in comparison to the other parts of Iran and its prevalence was higher in the males thanthat in the females.

Keywords:

Chronic bronchitis , Prevalence , Smoking , Cohort study