Aviles-Solis JC, et al. - In a large general adult population of 4,033 people 40 years or older, researchers evaluated the prevalence of wheezes and crackles and examined the links with self-reported disease, smoking status and lung function. They detected wheezes or crackles in 28% of individuals. In women and in men, the estimated age-standardized prevalence of wheezes was 18.6% and 15.3%, respectively, and of crackles, 10.8 and 9.4%, respectively. In multivariable analyses, age, female gender, self-reported asthma, and current smoking were revealed as the significant predictors of expiratory wheezes. Age, current smoking, modified Medical Research Council questionnaire ≥ 2, arterial oxygen saturation, and forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s Z-score were identified as the most significant predictors of inspiratory crackles. Overall, auscultation revealed the presence of adventitious lung sounds in approximately over a quarter of adults. The most significant predictor of adventitious sounds, especially crackles, was age. They also observed a link of adventitious sounds with self-reported disease, current smoking and measures of lung function. A higher risk of reduced lung function was observed in relation to the presence of findings in two or more auscultation sites vs solitary findings.