Ventilatory Capacity in a Series of Male Adults and the Effect of Respiratory Symptoms, Productive Cough, Smoking Habit and Occupation

Relationship of the loose cough sign to daily sputum volume. Observer variation in its detection.

“…In occupational and epidemiological surveys the presence or absence of a loose cough has been shown to define groups which can be distinguished by other differences in behaviour: a highly significant association between a loose cough and smoking has been demonstrated in Australian patients attending both general practitioners ) and a hospital outpatient department (Hong, Gandevia, and Lovell, 1967) for nonrespiratory complaints. Hong et al found a loose cough to be related both to a current history of cough and sputum and to previous acute bronchitis, but not to previous pneumonia.…”

Ventilatory capacity and productive cough in a rural community.

“…This population was known to have a low incidence of respiratory disorders (Cullen, Sten-house, Welborn, McCall, and Curnow, 1968). The study aimed to establish for Busselton norms 85 of ventilatory capacity, to assess the empirical value of the productive cough test of Hong et al (1967) and to make comparisons between South Wales and Busselton of the effect of age on ventilatory capacity. METHODS…”

“…Objective evidence of sputum production was obtained using the techniques described by Hong et al (1967). Each of the 1,638 men was asked to take a deep breath and then to cough forcibly.…”