Association of biomass fuel smoke exposure and copd in women of rural India – A cross sectional hospital based study.

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: Commonly used biomass fuel in developing world is equally harmful for lung health as tobacco smoke and unfortunately it is increasing the prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases like COPD specially among women of rural India. Study conducted to find out the prevalence of COPD among biomass users and epidemiological factors associated with excess use of biomass fuel in our country.Methods: A cross sectional questionnaire based epidemiological hospital based study . A study was conducted among hospital visited women>18 years of age belonging to rural areas of Haryana. Questionnaire was filled to get the relevant information and complete clinical examination and pulmonary function test was done to make the diagnosis. Collected data was compiled and analysed by using standard statistical methods as Chi square test, p<.05 consider as significant, RR risk with 95% CI also calculated.Results: 560 subjects were included in the study, out of them 494(88.21%) were biomass users, literacy rate was very poor among biomass users 105(21.26%), than non users .COPD was observed as commonest chronic respiratory problem in biomass users 75.40% than non users , RR was 1.43(95%CI 1.31-1.55) and it was in more severe form in subjects who were exposed for prolonged period of biomass smoke. Conclusion: Study shows that risk of COPD increases by the constant exposure of biomass smoke in under ventilated houses and it was also found that the severity of diseases also increase with duration of exposure.