title: Ventilated cookstoves associated with improvements in respiratory health-related quality of life in rural Bolivia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Household air pollution (HAP) from combustion of biomass fuels worldwide is linked to asthma, respiratory infections and chronic pulmonary diseases. Implementation of ventilated cookstoves significantly reduces exposure to HAP. However, improvements in concurrent respiratory health-related quality of life (HRQoL) have not been previously evaluated with a standardized questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  The association between woodsmoke exposure and respiratory HRQoL outcomes was evaluated using an intervention study in a rural community in Bolivia. Indoor carbon monoxide (CO) levels from traditional stoves and from cookstoves with chimneys were analyzed alongside interview results of women heads-of-households using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) in 2009 and 1-year post-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pronounced improvements in respiratory HRQoL and significant reductions of household CO levels followed installation of ventilated cookstoves. Stove implementation yielded lower indoor CO values and correlated positively with improved SGRQ scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first use of a standardized respiratory HRQoL assessment to determine the impact of ventilated cookstove implementation on reducing HAP. This preliminary study utilizes the SGRQ as a valuable tool enabling analysis of these health effects in relation to other respiratory disease states.
authors: Center for Global Health, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors: Donee
authors: D
authors: Alexander
authors: Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
authors: Jacqueline Callihan
authors: JC
authors: Linnes
authors: School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Bolton
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98915, USA.
authors: Timothy
authors: T
authors: Larson
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis; D001838:Bolivia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D003296:Cooking / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014691:Ventilation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002248:Carbon Monoxide
keywords: CO; St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire; biomass fuel; carbon monoxide; household air pollution; respiratory health-related quality of life