The Dubbo Study

Article Title
Peak expiratory flow, mortality and coronary disease in the Australian elderly
Article Authors
Simons LA; McCallum J; Simons J; Friedlander Y
Link to full text copy of paper
Article Journal
Med J Aust 1997;166:526-529.
Article Synopsis
A significant association between obstructive airways disease and risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) has been apparent for more than 30 years. However, the impact of respiratory disease in the elderly has been relatively under-researched.

This report analyses the relationship of peak expiratory flow (PEF) rate (as an indicator of respiratory disease) with mortality and ischaemic heart disease in the elderly.

During the study, 321 men (26 per cent) and 252 women (16 per cent) died. All-causes mortality was three (men) to four (women) times higher for those in PEF tertile I (most airway obstruction) than in tertile III (best lung function). Subjects in tertile I had a past history of respiratory disease, were current smokers, and were taking antihypertensive. IHD mortality and events showed similar trends.

The predominant cause of death in both sexes was IHD (35 per cent of deaths), and mortality from this cause also had a significant inverse relationship with PEF.