Abstract
PAQUID is an epidemiological cohort which aims to study cerebral and functional factors of ageing. We have examined the relationship between dyspnea level at entrance into this cohort and mortality occurring during the subsequent 8 years. Dyspnea was evaluated by a questionnaire derived from a Fletcher's five-degree scale. Mortality was recorded during follow-up according to its date and cause. Of 2762 subjects (98.9%) initially giving their dyspnea level, 935 (33.5%) had died 8 years later including 444 (40%) men and 491 (29.4%) women. Mortality was closely related to dyspnea level (p < 0.0001) both in men and women, especially for grade 3 and over, even after adjusting on age, sex, smoking history and former occupation. These results show that dyspnea grade 3 or higher is an important predictive symptom of mortality, thus suggesting that this is a threshold defining the dyspneic subject.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Eakin EG, Kaplan RM, Ries AL. Measurement of dyspnoea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Qua Life Res 1993; 2: 181–191.
Staats B. Dyspnoca — heart or lungs? Int J Cardiol 1988; 19: 13–17.
Barberger-Gateau P, Tessier JF, Nejjari C. Dyspnoea and disability: An epidemiological approach. Critical Rev Physical Med 1997; 9: 265–299.
Vestbo J, Knudsen K, Rasmussen F. Should we continue using questionnaires on breathlessness in epidemiologic surveys? Am Rev Respir Dis 1988; 137: 1114–1118.
Mahler DA, Guyatt GH, Jones PW. Clinical Measurement of dyspnoea. In Mahler DA (ed.), Dyspnoea, New York: Marcel Dekker Inc., 1998; 111: 149–192.
Kaplan GA, Seeman TE, Cohen RD, Knudsen LP, Guralnik J. Mortality among the elderly in the Alameda county study: Behavioural and demographic risk factors. Am J Public Health 1987; 77: 307–312.
Wingard D. The sex differential in morbidity, mortality and lifestyle. Ann Rev Public Health 1984; 5: 433–458.
Miller F, Reed D, Maclean C. Mortality and morbidity among blue and white collar workers in the Honolulu heart program cohort. Int J Epidemiol 1993; 22: 834–837.
Lacroix A, Lang J, Scherr P, et al. Smoking and mortality among older men and women in three communities. New Engl J Med 1991; 324: 1619–1625.
Doll R, Peto R, Wheatley K, Gray R, Sutherland I. 40 years' observations on male British doctors. 1994; 309: 901–911.
Nejjari C, Tessier J, Dartigues J, Barberger-Gateau P, Letenneur L, Salamon R. The relationship between dyspnoca and main lifetime occupation in elderly community dwellers. Int J Epidemiol 1993; 5: 848–854.
Barberger-Gateau P, Nejjari C, Tessier J, Dartigues J. Assessment of disability and handicap associated with dyspnoea in elderly subjects. Disabil Rehabil 1995; 17: 83–89.
Dartigues J, Barberger-Gateau P, Gagnon M, et al. PAQUID: étude du vieillissement normal et pathologique. Rev Geriatr 1991; 16: 5–15.
Barberger-Gateau P, Dartigues JF, Commenges D, Gagnon M and Salamon R. Health measures correlates in a French elderly community population. The PAQUID study. J Gerontol Soc Sci 1992; 47: S88–S95.
Lamaraca R, Alonso J, Gomez G, Munoz A. Left-truncated data with age time scale: An alternative for survival analysis in the elderly population. J Gerontol Med Sci 1998; 53A: M337–M343.
Barberger-Gateau P, Tessier JF, Nejjari C. Dyspnoea and disability: An epidemiological approach. Critical Rev Physical Rehabil Med 1997; 9: 265–299.
Sorlie P, Kannel W, O'Connor G. Mortality associated with respiratory function and symptoms in advanced age. The Framingham study. Am Rev Respir Dis 1989; 140: 379–387.
National Center for Health Statistics. Advance report of final mortality statistics, 1987. Monthly vital statistics report. Vol. 38.No.5: Suppl. Hyattsville, Md.: Public Health Service, 1989. (DHHS publication no. (PHS) 89-1120.).
Ebi-Kryston K, Hawthorne V, Rose G, et al. Breath-lessness, chronic bronchitis and reduced pulmonary function as predictors of cardiovascular disease mortality among men in England, Scotland, and United States. Int J Epidemiol 1989; 1: 84–88.
Higgins B, Britton J. Geographical and social class effects on asthma mortality in England and Wales. Respir Med 1995; 89: 341–346.
Neukirch F, Perdrizet S. La bronchite chronique, Evolution, prévention. Rev Mal Respir 1988; 5: 331–346.
Hunt L, Silverstein M, Reed C, O'Connell E, O'Fallon W, Yunginger J. Accuracy of the death certificates in a population based study of asthmatic patients. JAMA 1993; 269: 1947–1952.
Mittelmark MB, Psaty BM, Rautaharju PM, et al. Prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among older adults. The cardiovascular health study. Am J Epidemiol 1993; 137: 311–317.
Colvez A, Robine J, Jouan-Flahaut C. Risque et facteur de risque d'incapacité aux âges élevés. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique 1987; 35: 257–269.
Beaty T, Cohen B, Newill C, Menkes H, Diamond E, Chen C. Impaired pulmonary function as a risk factor for mortality. Am J Epidemiol 1982; 116: 102–113.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tessier, J., Nejjari, C., Letenneur, L. et al. Dyspnea and 8-year mortality among elderly men and women: The PAQUID cohort study. Eur J Epidemiol 17, 223–229 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017977715073
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017977715073