TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and clinical associations of wheezes and crackles in the general population
T2 - the Tromso study
AU - Aviles-Solis, J. C.
AU - Jacome, C.
AU - Davidsen, A.
AU - Einarsen, R.
AU - Vanbelle, S.
AU - Pasterkamp, H.
AU - Melbye, H.
PY - 2019/9/11
Y1 - 2019/9/11
N2 - Background Wheezes and crackles are well-known signs of lung diseases, but can also be heard in apparently healthy adults. However, their prevalence in a general population has been sparsely described. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of wheezes and crackles in a large general adult population and explore associations with self-reported disease, smoking status and lung function. Methods We recorded lung sounds in 4033 individuals 40 years or older and collected information on self-reported disease. Pulse oximetry and spirometry were carried out. We estimated age-standardized prevalence of wheezes and crackles and associations between wheezes and crackles and variables of interest were analyzed with univariable and multivariable logistic regressions. Results Twenty-eight percent of individuals had wheezes or crackles. The age-standardized prevalence of wheezes was 18.6% in women and 15.3% in men, and of crackles, 10.8 and 9.4%, respectively. Wheezes were mostly found during expiration and crackles during inspiration. Significant predictors of expiratory wheezes in multivariable analyses were age (10 years increase - OR 1.18, 95%CI 1.09-1.30), female gender (1.45, 1.2-1.8), self-reported asthma (1.36, 1.00-1.83), and current smoking (1.70, 1.28-2.23). The most important predictors of inspiratory crackles were age (1.76, 1.57-1.99), current smoking, (1.94, 1.40-2.69), mMRC >= 2 (1.79, 1.18-2.65), SpO(2) (0.88, 0.81-0.96), and FEV1 Z-score (0.86, 0.77-0.95). Conclusions Nearly over a quarter of adults present adventitious lung sounds on auscultation. Age was the most important predictor of adventitious sounds, particularly crackles. The adventitious sounds were also associated with self-reported disease, current smoking and measures of lung function. The presence of findings in two or more auscultation sites was associated with a higher risk of decreased lung function than solitary findings.
AB - Background Wheezes and crackles are well-known signs of lung diseases, but can also be heard in apparently healthy adults. However, their prevalence in a general population has been sparsely described. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of wheezes and crackles in a large general adult population and explore associations with self-reported disease, smoking status and lung function. Methods We recorded lung sounds in 4033 individuals 40 years or older and collected information on self-reported disease. Pulse oximetry and spirometry were carried out. We estimated age-standardized prevalence of wheezes and crackles and associations between wheezes and crackles and variables of interest were analyzed with univariable and multivariable logistic regressions. Results Twenty-eight percent of individuals had wheezes or crackles. The age-standardized prevalence of wheezes was 18.6% in women and 15.3% in men, and of crackles, 10.8 and 9.4%, respectively. Wheezes were mostly found during expiration and crackles during inspiration. Significant predictors of expiratory wheezes in multivariable analyses were age (10 years increase - OR 1.18, 95%CI 1.09-1.30), female gender (1.45, 1.2-1.8), self-reported asthma (1.36, 1.00-1.83), and current smoking (1.70, 1.28-2.23). The most important predictors of inspiratory crackles were age (1.76, 1.57-1.99), current smoking, (1.94, 1.40-2.69), mMRC >= 2 (1.79, 1.18-2.65), SpO(2) (0.88, 0.81-0.96), and FEV1 Z-score (0.86, 0.77-0.95). Conclusions Nearly over a quarter of adults present adventitious lung sounds on auscultation. Age was the most important predictor of adventitious sounds, particularly crackles. The adventitious sounds were also associated with self-reported disease, current smoking and measures of lung function. The presence of findings in two or more auscultation sites was associated with a higher risk of decreased lung function than solitary findings.
KW - Wheezes
KW - Crackles
KW - Auscultation
KW - Population
KW - HEART-FAILURE
KW - DIAGNOSING PNEUMONIA
KW - RESPIRATORY SOUNDS
KW - ACUTE COUGH
KW - BREATH
KW - AIRWAY
KW - RALES
KW - SEX
U2 - 10.1186/s12890-019-0928-1
DO - 10.1186/s12890-019-0928-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 31511003
VL - 19
JO - BMC Pulmonary Medicine
JF - BMC Pulmonary Medicine
SN - 1471-2466
IS - 1
M1 - 173
ER -