British medical journal (Clinical research ed.)
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Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) · Nov 1986
Childhood respiratory infection and adult chronic bronchitis in England and Wales.
The high mortality from chronic bronchitis in England and Wales and the excess of urban over rural mortality are unexplained. On dividing England and Wales into 212 local authority areas a strong geographical relation was found between death rates from chronic bronchitis and emphysema in 1959-78 and infant mortality from bronchitis and pneumonia during 1921-5. ⋯ National time trends reflected the influence of both factors. Chronic air pollution in adult life may be less important a cause of chronic bronchitis than previously supposed.