RESPIRATORY FUNCTION PROFILE UPON DIAGNOSIS OF COPD IN NON-SMOKERS
Abstract:
COPD is a disease associated almost exclusively with cigarette smoking. For this reason, suspicion index of COPD in the non-smoker is low, thus making the disease severely underdiagnosed. Therefore, there is the need for both an epidemiological and spirometrical characterisation of the disease in the non-smokers. The current study wishes to describe the pulmonary function of the nonsmoking COPD patient at the time of diagnosis. We have observed a predominance of patients who seek medical help in late stages of the disease, with moderate to severe airflow limitation. Also, the impact of using biomass for heating, on pulmonary function has been assessed and found similar to that of cigarette smoking. In rural environments, using biomass as a primary heating source has been associated, especially in the male patients, with significantly lower FEV1 values.
full text article in Romanian (.RO) |
full text article in English (.EN) |