Biomass Exposure and its Association with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Introduction: Biomass smoke exposure has been considered a risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This study evaluates such association depending on years of exposure. Objective: To evaluate exposure to biomass pollutants in terms of duration of exposure and its impact on the respiratory function of exposed patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study with analytical component was carried out in patients attending, for any cause, an outpatient clinic at the tertiary level of care in Colombia between August 2017 and June 2018. Results: The final analysis included 1997 subjects, 23% of which had a previous diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Their average age was 65 years. 59% of the subjects had a history of biomass smoke exposure, with an average exposure of 21 years. 47% had a history of smoking, with an average pack-year rate of fifteen. Of the total subjects under study, 83% had respiratory symptoms. Conclusions: There is a statistically significant relationship between biomass smoke exposure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from twenty years of exposure onwards, adjusted for age, sex and smoking history. In patients with wood smoke exposure and confirmed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a moderate degree of obstruction predominates according to spirometric findings based on the parameters of the GOLD guidelines. No relationship was found between the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the hours of daily exposure. © 2023, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.