Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and its Non-Smoking Risk Factors in India

Abstract

The rising prevalence of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is generally attributed to smoking, since the role of other risk factors among non-smokers are not well established especially in low and middle income countries like India. This is also reflected by the limited literature available on non-smoking related COPD risk factors like indoor and outdoor air pollution. The present review is an attempt to assess the influence of non-smoking risk factors on COPD and its measures in Indian subcontinent. The most noteworthy factors among non-smokers appear to be the use of biomass fuel for cooking and heating purposes. We observed that the studies undertaken to evaluate the role of such risk factors are inconclusive due to weak methodologies and small sample sizes, may be due to limited financial resources. The present review suggests the need of a nationally representative study to estimate the effect of each of the potential modifiable risk factor (other than smoking) for framing impactful public health policies to prevent and manage COPD at community and population level in India.

Impact of an Educational Program on knowledge and Practice of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…Smoking is by far the most common risk factor for development of COPD, but other factors such as outdoor, occupational, and indoor air pollution may also cause COPD in the absence of smoking. Factors such as genetics, infections, nutrition, and oxidative stress may also have a role in the development and/or progression of COPD (Walia, Vellakkal, & Gupta, 2016).…”

Augmenting autophagy for prognosis based intervention of COPD-pathophysiology

“…Among these debilitating chronic conditions, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is currently the 3rd leading cause of death [3], although it is preventable by making early lifestyle changes such as completely avoiding tobacco smoking or exposure. It is well known that first and second hand cigarette smoke exposure is the leading cause of COPD initiation and progression [4], while other contributing risk factors are respiratory infections, air pollution, exposure to biomass-smoke or e-cig/nicotine-vapors, aging, certain genetic polymorphisms and obesity [4–9]. The continuous exposure of our airways to the plethora of noxious agents present in tobacco smoke and/or e-cig/nicotine vapors initiates inflammatory-oxidative stress that leads to the eventual irreversible damage of the lung parenchyma and alveolar walls [4, 10–12].…”

Risk assessments of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using Bayesian network based on a provincial survey

“…However, it is critical to identify risk factors in the management of COPD. Numerous studies of COPD prevalence have shown that male sex, older age, low education level, and tobacco use are associated with the development of COPD [7][8][9][10][11][12], but the risks identified in the studies performed in different regions varied. Therefore, a regional survey of COPD, as well as its risk factors, is still needed.…”