The Physical Status of Men in the Lowest Income Group in the Sixth Decade of Life

Forty-one men between the ages of 50 and 60 from the indigent population in Montreal have been studied during two winters. Clinical evaluation, completion of a respiratory questionnaire, electrocardiograms, plain chest radiographs and full chest tomograms, and a battery of pulmonary function tests were completed on each.No difference in pulmonary function could be demonstrated among nine men who gave no history of chronic bronchitis and 14 who gave positive answers to the same questionnaire.Five who had had dusty occupations in the past had more evidence of function impairment than men not exposed to this hazard.Thirteen were found to have complicating disease; two had active tuberculosis, one a mediastinal tumour, and the remaining 10 various forms of heart disease.Considering the group as a whole, only 18 (44%) had no objective evidence of any organic disease.