scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question

Showing papers by "Robert L. Cowie published in 2015"


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Sep 2015-Thorax
TL;DR: The study confirmed the substantial burden of COPD among never-smokers, defined the common and gender-specific risk factors for COPD in never- Smokers and provided early insight into potential phenotypical differences in COPD between lifelong never-Smokers and ever-smoker.
Abstract: Background There is limited data on the risk factors and phenotypical characteristics associated with spirometrically confirmed COPD in never-smokers in the general population. Aims To compare the characteristics associated with COPD by gender and by severity of airway obstruction in never-smokers and in ever-smokers. Method We analysed the data from 5176 adults aged 40 years and older who participated in the initial cross-sectional phase of the population-based, prospective, multisite Canadian Cohort of Obstructive Lung Disease study. Never-smokers were defined as those with a lifetime exposure of 1 /FVC Results The prevalence of COPD (FEV 1 /FVC Conclusions The study confirmed the substantial burden of COPD among never-smokers, defined the common and gender-specific risk factors for COPD in never-smokers and provided early insight into potential phenotypical differences in COPD between lifelong never-smokers and ever-smokers. Trial registration number NCT00920348 (ClinicalTrials.gov); study ID number: IRO-93326.

158 citations



01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: The relationship between birth weight and emergency visits for asthma beyond a birth weight of 4.5 kg was linear, such that every increment of 0.10 kg in birth weight was associated with an additional 10% (95% CI, 2-19%) increase in the risk of emergency visits.
Abstract: Results: Neonates born with a high birth weight had a significantly increased risk of emergency visits for asthma during childhood compared with neonates born with a normal birth weight (relative risk [RR], 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.29). The relationship between birth weight and emergency visits for asthma beyond a birth weight of 4.5 kg was linear, such that every increment of 0.10 kg in birth weight was associated with an additional 10% (95% CI, 2%-19%) increase in the risk of emergency visits for asthma. Other factors associated with an elevated risk for emergency asthma visits during childhood included male sex (RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.22-1.30), aboriginal status (RR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.11-1.29), and low-income status (RR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.06-1.16).