4. Discussion
asthma, COPD
ASTHMATICS, COPD, DISEASE, ASTHMA
This study confirms that exposure to SHS under the present legislation in legal outside areas in three EU countries with comprehensive smokefree laws still results in exposure to very high SHS levels [The changes in breathing rates that we recorded were complex. Nearly half of the patients increased their breathing rates, and an almost equal number decreased their breathing rate at rest in comparison with resting rates during non-exposure, and these changes were statistically significantly different. Responses in younger, lower weight, non-smoking and female patients with asthma were associated with increases in the breathing rate, while older, heavier, smoker and ex-smokers, and male patients with COPD were more likely to decrease the breathing rate. This suggests that there are disease, gender, age, weight, and smoking effects in the responses, but these were directional changes only, which did not reach statistical significance except for female asthmatics who increased rates in line with a reduction in spirometry [Our findings also raise the question of possible alternative mechanisms at work [