Table 1 Patients' characteristics and respiratory physicians' diagnoses
Characteristics | Median (range) |
|---|---|
Age (range), years | 48 (15–89) |
No. (%) (N = 1392) | |
Female, No. (%) | 876 (63) |
Previously diagnosed respiratory illnesses, | |
Previous tuberculosis | 202 (15) |
On tuberculosis treatment** | 2 (0.1) |
Asthma | 592 (43) |
Chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD) | 281 (20) |
Other current illnesses | |
Cardiovascular disease | 523 (38) |
Diabetes | 107 (8) |
Allergic rhinitis | 225(16) |
Smoking history* | |
Never smoked | 330 (24) |
Ex-smoker | 407 (29) |
Current smokers | 653 (47) |
Respiratory diagnoses made by specialist physicians† | |
Suspected tuberculosis | 260 (19%) |
Asthma | 508 (36%) |
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 381 (27%) |
Acute exacerbation of asthma/COPD | 293 (21%) |
Lower respiratory tract infection | 283 (20%) |
Allergic rhinitis | 245 (17%) |
Chronic bronchitis | 66 (5%) |
Upper respiratory tract infection | 40 (3%) |