Altitude and mortality from chronic obstructive lung disease in New Mexico

This study tested the hypothesis that altitude increases mortality from chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) in New Mexico. A death was attributed to COLD if it resulted from chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or chronic obstructive lung disease, according to the Eighth Revision International Classification of Diseases, Adapted for Use in the United States. New Mexico's average annual ethnic and sex-specific mortality rates from COLD were calculated using death certificate data for the period 1969 to 1977. Deaths were assigned to altitude groups according to the county of residence at the time of death. Mortality rates for whites exceeded nationwide rates at all altitudes. However, mortality rates showed no increase with altitude. In fact, mortality from COLD decreased significantly with altitude for non-Hispanic white (Anglo) males (P less than .02). Immigration of Anglos to the lower altitudes of New Mexico probably explains these results.