The Study of Aetiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Non-Smokers

Nisha Mathew,Zone Xavier

doi:10.4172/2161-105x.1000304

Abstract

Although COPD occurs predominantly in smokers, non-smokers also develop COPD. In the past decade and especially the past 5 years, results from a growing number of published studies have suggested that risk factors other than smoking are strongly associated with COPD. The aim of the present study is to explore the different causes of non-smoker COPD patients getting treatment from Pulmonary Medicine department and to compare the demographic incidence of COPD in non-smokers in rural & urban areas. It’s a study of 126 patients who came to pulmonary medicine department with breathlessness and cough. Every patient underwent spirometry and diagnosis of COPD got confirmed by post bronchodilator FEV1/FVC. Detailed history was taken regarding various risk factors leading to COPD, like biomass exposure, environmental tobacco smoke exposure, occupational exposure, outdoor and indoor air pollution, long standing bronchial asthma, history of pulmonary tuberculosis and associated co-morbidities. In this study we found out that the exposure to biomass smoke is the most common aetiology of non-smoker COPD, followed by environmental tobacco smoke. Females are affected more than males. Non smoker COPD is more common in rural population than urban population.

Highlights

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common, preventable & treatable disease, characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and in the lungs to noxious particles or gases, exacerbations and co-morbidities contributes to overall severity in individual patients [1].Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive airflow obstruction and destruction of lung parenchyma, and is caused by chronic exposure of genetically susceptible individuals to environmental factors
In this study we found out that the exposure to biomass smoke is the most common aetiology of non-smoker COPD, followed by environmental tobacco smoke
Rural women in developing countries bear the largest share of this burden resulting from chronic exposure to biomass fuel smoke

Summary

Introduction

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common, preventable & treatable disease, characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and in the lungs to noxious particles or gases, exacerbations and co-morbidities contributes to overall severity in individual patients [1]. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive airflow obstruction and destruction of lung parenchyma, and is caused by chronic exposure of genetically susceptible individuals to environmental factors. Biomass fuel exposure, passive smoking, exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollutants, workplace exposure to dust and fumes, history of repeated lower respiratory tract infections during childhood, history of pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic asthma, intrauterine growth retardation, poor nourishment, and poor socioeconomic status. Air pollution is an aetiological factor in COPD [6]

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