Risk factors of spontaneous pneumothorax in Kuwait.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the risk factors of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) in Kuwait.


METHODS
From January 2002 through December 2003, 254 consecutive cases with a diagnosis of SP were reviewed. Analyses of pneumothorax rates by age, sex, smoking, body mass index (BMI) and climatic conditions were evaluated.


RESULTS
Of the 254 patients, 242 (95%) were male and 12 (5%) were female; a larger proportion of 180 (88%) were Kuwaitis and 74 (12%) were expatriates. Two hundred and eight (82%) episodes were regarded as primary SP and 46 (18%) as secondary SP. The mean age was 24.5 +/- 5.8 years for primary SP and 45.7 +/- 14.5 years for secondary SP. One hundred and ninety-six (77%) individuals were current smokers. BMI in primary and secondary SP was 19.3 and 22.4, respectively (p < 0.001). There was no relationship between SP and climatic conditions (a rise or fall in temperature, humidity or atmospheric pressure). However, a slight increase in SP occurred in July, probably the hottest month in Kuwait.


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicate that the most important risk factors of SP in Kuwait are smoking, low BMI and the male gender.
Ayed
Adel K
AK
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University. adel@hsc.edu.kw
Bazerbashi
Samer
S
Ben-Nakhi
Muneera
M
Chandrasekran
Chezhian
C
Sukumar
Murgan
M
Al-Rowayeh
Aiman
A
Al-Othman
Mohammed
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002980:Climate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology