Examples for outcomes of respiratory tract diseases depending on lengths of follow-up and frequency of events
| Outcome | Short follow-up | Long follow-up | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rare events | Frequent events | Rare events | Frequent events | |
| Death | Viral infection may aggravate to acute myocarditis and subsequent heart failure | Lack of nourishment and lack of medicines may cause general susceptibility to life-threatening disease | Infection may affect organs such as the heart. Fibrous replacement of organ tissue may result in late arrhythmia and subsequent cardiac arrest | Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and women |
| Disease | Bacterial infection may aggravate to community-acquired pneumonia | Infection may develop to acute sinusitis that may worsen and prolong the condition | Streptococcal pharyngitis may be complicated by chronic rheumatic heart disease | Long-term exposure to tobacco smoke is the most often cause of lung cancer |
| Discomfort Disability Dissatisfaction | Common cold may confine to bed and cause sick leave | Acute sinusitis may cause drowsiness, headache and sleepiness | Streptococcal pharyngitis may be complicated by rheumatic fever, which may have an involuntary movement disorder called Sydenham’s chorea as a main symptom | In non-smokers, secondhand smoke may be the cause of about 20% of cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is characterised by shortness of breath and cough |