Activity-related dyspnea in older adults participating in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Background: Dyspnea is associated with functional impairment and impaired quality of life. There is limited information on the potential risk factors for dyspnea in an older adult population.

Objectives: Among older adults aged 45 to 85 years of age, what sociodemographic, environmental, and disease related factors are correlated with dyspnea?

Design: We used cross-sectional questionnaire data collected on 28,854 participants of the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging (CLSA).

Respiratory Symptoms Are Associated With Frailty in Older Adults With Normal Spirometry, Independent of Smoking, in the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging.

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that even in the absence of lung impairment as determined by spirometry, smoking and respiratory symptoms are associated with poor overall health and well-being. However, this relationship is not well defined; and it remains unclear the degree to which symptoms are related to poor health, independent of smoking. This is of particular importance to older adults, as they are more likely to exhibit respiratory symptoms and are, therefore, at risk of not receiving appropriate treatment if they have never smoked and have normal spirometry.

A comprehensive analysis of factors related to lung function in older adults: Cross-sectional findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Maintenance of lung function is an often underappreciated, yet critical component of healthy aging. Given the unprecedented shift in the average age of Canadians over the next half century, it will be important to investigate the determinants of lung function in the elderly. In the following study, we estimated the association between lung function and a broad array of factors related to sociodemographics, lifestyle, chronic medical conditions and psychosocial factors in older adults aged 45-86 years old using cross-sectional data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging (n = 21,338).

Associations between air pollution and cardio-respiratory physiological measures in older adults exercising outdoors.

We examined whether exercising indoors vs. outdoors reduced the cardio-respiratory effects of outdoor air pollution. Adults ≥55 were randomly assigned to exercise indoors when the Air Quality Health Index was ≥5 and outdoors on other days (intervention group, n = 37), or outdoors everyday (control group, n = 35).

Is residential ambient air limonene associated with asthma? Findings from the Canadian Health Measures Survey.

Asthma is a common chronic disease. Exposure to limonene is commonplace because it may be used in the manufacture of personal care products and household cleaners. We investigated the influence of limonene on asthma in a population-based sample of approximately 3000 Canadians.

Cardiorespiratory Effects of Air Pollution in a Panel Study of Winter Outdoor Physical Activity in Older Adults.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess cardiorespiratory effects of air pollution in older adults exercising outdoors in winter.

Methods: Adults 55 years of age and older completed daily measurements of blood pressure, peak expiratory flow and oximetry, and weekly measurements of heart rate variability, endothelial function, spirometry, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide and urinary oxidative stress markers, before and after outdoor exercise, for 10 weeks. Data were analyzed using linear mixed effect models.

The associations between phthalate exposure and insulin resistance, β-cell function and blood glucose control in a population-based sample.

In developed countries, phthalate exposure is ubiquitous. Previous studies have shown an association between phthalate levels and health effects. To test associations between phthalate exposures, estimated from urinary phthalate metabolites, and insulin resistance, β-cell function and glucose control.

Cardio-Respiratory Effects of Air Pollution in a Panel Study of Outdoor Physical Activity and Health in Rural Older Adults.

Objective: To examine cardio-respiratory effects of air pollution in rural older adults exercising outdoors.

Methods: Adults 55 and over completed measurements of blood pressure, peak expiratory flow and oximetry daily, and of heart rate variability, endothelial function, spirometry, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide and urinary oxidative stress markers weekly, before and after outdoor exercise, for 10 weeks. Data were analyzed using linear mixed effect models.

The influence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on lung function in a representative sample of the Canadian population.

We investigated the associations between exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and selected respiratory physiologic measures in cycles 2 and 3 of the Canadian Health Measures Survey, a nationally representative population sample. Using generalized linear mixed models, we tested the association between selected PAH metabolites and 1-second forced expiratory volume (FEV), forced vital capacity (FVC), and the ratio between the two (FEV/FVC) in 3531 people from 6 to 79 years of age. An interquartile change in urinary PAH metabolite was associated with significant decrements in FEV and FVC for eight PAHs, 2-hydroxynapthalene, 1-, and 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, 2-, 3-, and 9-hydroxyfluorene and 3- and 4-hydroxyphenanthrene.

Does Mental Health Status Influence Susceptibility to the Physiologic Effects of Air Pollution? A Population Based Study of Canadian Children.

Background: Both air pollution exposure and the presence of mental illness are associated with an increased risk of physical illness.

Objective: To determine whether or not children with less favourable mental health are more susceptible to pulmonary and cardiovascular effects of ambient air pollution, compared to those who are mentally healthy.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study of 1,883 children between the ages of 6 and 17 years of age who participated in the Canadian Health Measures population survey between 2007 and 2009.

Residential exposure to volatile organic compounds and lung function: results from a population-based cross-sectional survey.

Exposure to residential volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is ubiquitous in homes, and may influence respiratory health with important public health implications. To investigate the association between VOCs measured in residential indoor air and lung function in the Canadian population Cycle 2 of the Canadian Health Measures Survey - a population based cross-sectional survey designed to be representative of the Canadian population - was carried out between 2009 and 2011. Of the 84 VOCs measured, 47 were detectable in at least 50% of homes and ten were negatively associated with lung function: decanal, 2-furancarboxaldehyde, hexanal, nonanal, octanal, benzene, styrene, α-pinene, 2-methyl-1,2-butadiene and naphthalene.

The association between urinary phthalates and lung function.

Objective: To investigate the influence of phthalate exposure on lung function in the Canadian population.

Methods: We tested the association between 1-second forced expiratory volume (FEVl), forced vital capacity (FVC), and urinary phthalate metabolite levels in a nationally representative sample of 3147, from 6 to 49 years old.

Results: An interquartile increase in mono-n-butyl phthalate was associated with decreases in percent predicted FEV1 of 0.

The association between personal care products and lung function.

Purpose: Chemical exposures are important determinants of respiratory health. The objective of the present study was to determine the association between the use of personal care products, which may contain respirable components, and lung function.

Methods: Using questionnaire and spirometry data collected during the Canadian Health Measures population survey, the association was tested between 1-second forced expiratory volume (FEV(l)) and forced vital capacity (FVC) expressed as a percentage of predicted, and the frequency of use of personal care products categorized as eye makeup, fragrances, hairstyle products, lipstick, and scented body products.

Air pollution and hospitalization for acute complications of diabetes in Chile.

Exposure to air pollution has been shown to cause insulin resistance in mice. To determine the relevance to humans, we tested the association between daily air pollution concentrations and daily hospitalization for acute serious complications of diabetes, coma and ketoacidosis, in Santiago between 2001 and 2008, using generalized linear models with natural splines to control for long term trends. For an interquartile range (IQR) increase in air pollutant, the relative risks (95% CI) of hospitalization for diabetes were: 1.

The influence of neighborhood traffic density on the respiratory health of elementary schoolchildren.

Background: Several studies have found that living near major roadways is associated with an increase in respiratory illness but few studies have measured the volume and type of traffic.

Objective: We investigated the relation between traffic volume and respiratory health of 2328 children 9 to 11 years old in the city of Windsor, Canada.

Methods: We identified the roadways within a 200 meter radius of the child's neighborhood using the latitude and longitude of the residential postal code.

Does air pollution increase the effect of aeroallergens on hospitalization for asthma?

Background: Clinical experiments demonstrate that the asthmatic response to an aeroallergen can be enhanced by prior exposure to an air pollutant.

Objective: We sought to compare the effects of ambient aeroallergens on hospitalization for asthma between high and low air pollution days in 11 large Canadian cities.

Methods: Daily time-series analysis was used, and results were adjusted for day of the week, temperature, barometric pressure, and relative humidity.

The risk of dying on days of higher air pollution among the socially disadvantaged elderly.

Rationale: The estimated mortality rate associated with ambient air pollution based on general population studies may not be applicable to certain subgroups.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine the influence of age, education, employment status and income on the risk of mortality associated with ambient air pollution.

Methods: Daily time-series analyses tested the association between daily air pollution and daily mortality in seven Chilean urban centers during the period January 1997-December 2007.

Air pollution and hospitalization for epilepsy in Chile.

Objective: To determine the association between gaseous and fine particulate air pollution (PM(2.5)) and epilepsy in a general population sample.

Method: A daily time-series analyses tested the association between daily hospitalization for epilepsy in seven Chilean urban centers during the period 2001 and 2005.

A comparison of obese and nonobese people with asthma: exploring an asthma-obesity interaction.

Objective: The objectives of our study were to compare patient characteristics and severity of disease in obese and normal-weight-confirmed people with asthma and to explore reasons for misdiagnosis of asthma, including potential interactions with obesity.

Methods: We randomly selected patients with physician-diagnosed asthma from eight Canadian cities. Asthma diagnosis was confirmed via a sequential lung function testing algorithm.

Components of particulate air pollution and emergency department visits in Chile.

The objective of the present study was to determine the association between several elements of particulates and Emergency Department (ED) visits in a general population sample. Daily time-series analyses tested the association between daily ED visit and air pollutants and components of particulates measured in Santiago Centro, a municipality, which includes downtown Santiago during the period from 2001 to 2006. The strongest individual effect was seen for elemental carbon.

Air pollution and hospitalization for headache in Chile.

The authors performed a time-series analysis to test the association between air pollution and daily numbers of hospitalizations for headache in 7 Chilean urban centers during the period 2001-2005. Results were adjusted for day of the week and humidex. Three categories of headache-migraine, headache with cause specified, and headache not otherwise specified-were all associated with air pollution.

Effects of indoor, outdoor, and personal exposure to particulate air pollution on cardiovascular physiology and systemic mediators in seniors.

Objective: To investigate the associations between exposure to particulate air pollution and changes in cardiovascular function and plasma mediators in seniors.

Methods: We monitored daily indoor and outdoor black carbon and particulate matter < or = 2.5 microm (pm(2.

Effects of the indoor environment on the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide in school-aged children.

Background: The fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) appears to be a good marker for airway inflammation in children with asthma.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of environmental exposures on exhaled nitric oxide in a community sample of children.

Methods: The relationship among exhaled nitric oxide, underlying disease and home environmental exposures was examined using questionnaire data and measurement of exhaled nitric oxide in a cross-sectional study of 1135 children that included healthy children, and children with allergies and/or asthma who were attending grades 4 through 6 in Windsor, Ontario.

Components of particulate air pollution and mortality in Chile.

To determine the association between several elements of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) and mortality in a general population sample, daily time-series analysis was used to test the association between daily mortality and components of PM2.5 measured in downtown Santiago, Chile between 1998 and 2006.

Overdiagnosis of asthma in obese and nonobese adults.

Background: It is unclear whether asthma is overdiagnosed in developed countries, particularly among obese individuals, who may be more likely than nonobese people to experience dyspnea.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study involving nonobese (body mass index 20-25) and obese (body mass index >/= 30) individuals with asthma that had been diagnosed by a physician. Participants were recruited from 8 Canadian cities by means of random-digit dialing.