Differences in respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in XXXX in 2 Saskatchewan communities.

@entity1 @entity565 @entity1576 @entity514
BACKGROUND: @entity565 prevalence is known to vary among different geographical regions both nationally and internationally. However, there is limited understanding of the nature of differences within geographical regions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of @entity565 in 2 prairie communities and differences in the patterns of respiratory symptoms between the communities. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was sent through schools in Estevan and @entity514 Current, Saskatchewan, to parents of 2,231 @entity1 in grades 1 to 6. @entity565 prevalence was determined by questionnaire report of physician-diagnosed @entity565 . Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) using spirometry were conducted in @entity1 in grades 1 to 4. To evaluate @entity1576 without the use of a diagnostic label, similar comparisons were made between communities for respiratory symptoms. RESULTS: The overall response rate to the survey questionnaire was 91.3%. The prevalence of ever @entity565 in Estevan was 21.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 20.1%-22.7%) compared with 16.2% (95% CI, 15.1%-17.3%) in @entity514 Current. A higher proportion of @entity1 in Estevan (19.7%; 95% CI, 17.9%-21.5%) compared with @entity1 in @entity514 Current (12.5%; 95% CI, 11.1%-13.9%) reported a history of @entity565 . There was no difference found between towns for @entity1 . These findings were supported by findings for respiratory symptoms, including wheeze and cough. For both @entity1 and @entity1 , the forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% of forced vital capacity and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity were lower in Estevan compared with @entity514 Current. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in the distribution of childhood @entity565 can be found within regions. These results are strengthened by PFTs and cannot be fully explained by diagnostic biases.
