Assessment of risk factors against severity of COPD in non-smokers.

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 smoke with mosquito coil smoke exposure is responsible for more severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.