Risk factors for chronic obstructive lung disease in Saudi Arabia.
Based on the clinical impression of a relatively high number of non smoking women with COPD at a tertiary care facility in Saudi Arabia, we performed a case-control study to reveal possible risk factors. Our hypothesis was that the extensive use of incense burners among Saudis was a risk factor of COPD. Fifty consecutive patients with COPD and 71 healthy controls were questioned about risk factors of COPD. As expected more COPD-men than control men were smokers. Very few women smoked. We found no difference in the use of incense burners between cases and controls. On the other hand, two-thirds of the COPD-women and only 1/20 of the control women had been exposed to indoor open fire for more than 20 yr (P < 0.05). Accordingly, indoor exposure to open fire of wood or biomass seems to be a risk factor of COPD among Saudi women.
Medical Department P, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
M
M
Døssing
J
J
Khan
F
F
al-Rabiah
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012906:Smoke; D014934:Wood
D012906:Smoke