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ABSTRACT: Background
Household air pollution (HAP) is one of the most important environmental risk factors worldwide associated with chronic respiratory diseases.Objectives
The present study focused on respiratory health in a population with high wood smoke exposure in Nicaragua.Methods
We employed a cross-sectional study with 213 participants. Data on the prevalence of chronic bronchitis (chronic bronchitis), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, including respiratory scores and pulmonary function tests, were documented. The role of risk factors for chronic bronchitis was analyzed.Results
We found a high prevalence of chronic airway diseases in the population exposed to wood smoke. A higher prevalence of chronic bronchitis was found in persons serving as primary cooks in households. Further confounding factors for chronic bronchitis included age, a prior diagnosis of asthma, inhalational allergies and lower socioeconomic status. Respiratory scores were elevated in individuals with chronic bronchitis.Conclusions
This is one of the first studies in a wood smoke-exposed population in Nicaragua showing a high prevalence of chronic bronchitis and COPD with an emphasis on the analysis of personal and environmental risk factors. Further studies are needed to address which combination of interventions is most efficient for ameliorating respiratory health hazards.Participant consent
Obtained.Ethics approval
The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Luebeck, Germany (reference number 12-214), and by the Ethics Committee of the Department of Medical Sciences at National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, Managua, Nicaragua.Competing interests
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
SUBMITTER: Maas A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7269325 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Maas Annika A Kothe Henning H Centeno Ivette Pilarte IP Gutiérrez Leiva Mauricio José MJ Dalhoff Klaus K
Journal of health & pollution 20200526 26
<h4>Background</h4>Household air pollution (HAP) is one of the most important environmental risk factors worldwide associated with chronic respiratory diseases.<h4>Objectives</h4>The present study focused on respiratory health in a population with high wood smoke exposure in Nicaragua.<h4>Methods</h4>We employed a cross-sectional study with 213 participants. Data on the prevalence of chronic bronchitis (chronic bronchitis), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, including respi ...[more]