Why is the number of non-smokers with COPD increasing?

The prevalence of non-smokers with COPD has increased. A new study has evaluated the comorbidities and badociated exposures of non-smoking patients with the disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) as follows: "Not a single disease, but a generic term used to describe chronic lung diseases that limit the circulation of the lungs. air in the lungs. The more familiar terms of "chronic bronchitis" and "emphysema" are no longer used, but are now included in the diagnosis of COPD. "

"The most common symptoms of COPD are shortness of breath or 'need for air', excessive sputum production and chronic cough. However, COPD is not just a "smoker's cough", but an under-diagnosed lung disease that can be life-threatening and can eventually lead to death.

According to WHO estimates, 65 million people have moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

L & # 39; study

The researchers examined 180 non-smoking patients with COPD between 2016 and 2018. Each patient was clbadified as mild, moderate, severe and very severe COPD.

The study found that the percentage of mild, moderate, severe and very severe patients was 26%, 53%, 58% and 43% respectively.

comorbidities

The most common comorbidities in non-smokers with COPD were:

• Hypertension (34.4%); and
• Diabetes mellitus (17.8%).

Environmental factors

Most patients with COPD (61%) lived in rural areas, while 38% lived in urban areas. Forty-six percent of the patients had been exposed to biombad gas, while 26% had been exposed to toxic gases. According to the American College of Chest Physicians, these results support the theory that biofuel exposure is a major contributor to COPD and that the risk is higher among the rural population.

Environmental pollution and domestic smoke as contributors to COPD

The lead researcher, Dr. Sameer Arbat, said, "Exposure to industrial smoke, environmental pollution and domestic smoke is one of the major contributors to COPD in non-smokers. It is necessary to further study this subset of non-smokers with COPD to determine the true cause of this increase. "