Association between respiratory symptoms and mechanics in the general population

<bold>Background:</bold> We previously reported a significant association of abnormal osclillometry parameters with respiratory symptoms and diseases in 7560 participants of the Austrian LEAD (Lung, hEart, sociAl, boDy) study (Veneroni et al. AJRCCM). Participants underwent a single oscillometry measure. Also, we arbitrarily defined a threshold of 30% on the coefficient of variation of the resistance to exclude measurements with artifacts. <bold>Aims:</bold> To verify if the association between respiratory symptoms and mechanics in the general population is confirmed when oscillometry measurements are repeated years later and in triplicate according to clinical standards. <bold>Methods:</bold> 2129 subjects underwent oscillometry 4.3±0.2 years after the first measure. Measurements at the second time were performed in triplicate according to technical standards. The z-score of Rrs and Xrs at 5 Hz, their inspiratory and expiratory components, and the area above the Xrs curve were computed (Oostveen et al. 2013). Any abnormal parameter or the presence of tidal expiratory flow limitation identified abnormal oscillometry. Abnormal spirometry was defined as the z-score of the forced vital capacity (FVC), the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), or the ratio FEV1/FVC > 1.64. <bold>Results:</bold> Figure 1 reports the odd ratios of presenting symptoms or diseases. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA3956/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig> <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Our results confirmed the association between respiratory symptoms and mechanics.