Assessment of Risk Factors against Severity of COPD in Non-Smokers

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in non-smokers has been an important
concern in past decade. We studied the risk factors responsible for more severe Chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. Identifying them would help to work against progression to more severe disease
as well as prevention.

Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was done in outpatient clinic of Jinnah postgraduate
medical center from December 2010 to December 2011. All patients fulfilling the criteria for Chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease were taken in study. Patients with less than five pack years smoking
with other risk factors for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were evaluated.

Results: Out of total 90 patients, 74 (82.2%) had mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 16
(17.7%) had moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients with single biomass
exposure were found to have mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease except those having
mosquito coil exposure. Patients with mosquito coil and wood smoke exposure were observed to
have moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p-value 0.009).

Conclusions: Wood smokewith mosquito coil smoke exposure is responsible for more severe chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease.
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Keywords: biomass; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; non-smoker; tuberculosis.