EFFECT OF BIOMASS FUEL BURNING ON LUNG FUNCTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of biomass fuel burning on lung functions in patients with COPD in relation to duration of Biomass fuel (BMF) exposure and type of BMF.Methodology: This descriptive correlational study was conducted at Pulmonology department lady Reading hospital Peshawar from October 23, 2009 to October 22, 2010. Data was collected by non-probability convenience sampling technique. COPD Patients presenting with symptoms of cough, sputum production or breathlessness and exposed to biomass fuel smoke were interviewed for type of biomass fuel and duration of exposure. Duration of cumulative exposure to biomass smoke was quantified in hour-years(H-Y). All of patients were subjected to pulmonary function testing before and after 15 minutes of 1 ml Salbutamol (bronchodilator) nebulization, to measure the Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1). Severity of air flow limitation (% FEV1) was categorized as mild, moderate, severe and very severe. Spearman’s rank correlation test was applied to see the relationship between “Severity of air flow limitation” and “type of BMF and duration of exposure”.Results: Out of 204 cases, 15 (7.4%) were males and 189 (92.6%) were females. Mean age of patients was 58.12 years +9.82 SD. Most common biomass fuel used was “Wood” followed by mixed fuel consisting of wood, animal dung and Crops residues. The mean duration of exposure to Biomass fuel smoke was 245.67 H-Ys (+95.90 SD). Mean base line FEV1 was 1.25 liters (+ 0.56 SD) while the mean percent predicted FEV1 was 54.25 % (+ 18.13). The relation between the type of BMF used and the severity of airflow limitation was statistically not significant (p 0.080) with Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (Spearman’s rho) of 0.123. Similarly the relation between the duration of BMF and severity of air flow limitation was statistically not significant (p = 0.811) with Correlation Co-efficient of 0.017.Conclusion: The duration of biomass fuel exposure and type of biomass fuel has no significant effect on Lung functions in patients with COPD.