Psychological Distress in Women with Chronic Bronchitis in a Fishing Community in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract

Background. Biomass smoke exposure is a known risk factor for chronic bronchitis. Psychiatric comorbidities may have significant impact on the quality of life of patients with chronic bronchitis. Methods. Women who engage in fish preservation by drying over burning firewood in a fishing community were recruited for this survey. The British medical research questionnaire was used to determine chronic bronchitis, and psychological distress was determined using the hospital anxiety and depression scale. Results. A total of 342 women were recruited for this study and 63 of them had chronic bronchitis. 96 women had features suggestive of psychological distress: 57 (16.6%) women with anxiety, 51 (14.9%) women with depression and 12 women (3.5%) had combined features. Psychological distress was more common among women with chronic bronchitis. Anxiety was significantly associated with chronic bronchitis and the level of biomass exposure while depression was significantly associated with chronic bronchitis, level of exposure, and a history of sleeping in the fish smoking room. Conclusion. Anxiety and depression show significant association with chronic bronchitis among women with biomass smoke exposure with the level of exposure having an aggravating effect on the relationship.

Author′s reply

“…The index report focused on lung function and exposure. The article referenced as 1[2] focused on respiratory symptoms, while the article referenced as 2[3] focused on the psychological consequences of indoor air pollution.In the article referenced as 2[3] the authors did mention the relationship between exposure and anxiety in the results section, as well as in the discussion.Although the reports came from the same population there were slight differences in the samples. The psychiatrists were not satisfied with some responses and those were removed from the analysis and more subjects were subsequently recruited to make up the numbers.…”

“…The index report focused on lung function and exposure. The article referenced as 1[ 2 ] focused on respiratory symptoms, while the article referenced as 2[ 3 ] focused on the psychological consequences of indoor air pollution. In the article referenced as 2[ 3 ] the authors did mention the relationship between exposure and anxiety in the results section, as well as in the discussion.…”

“…The psychiatrists were not satisfied with some responses and those were removed from the analysis and more subjects were subsequently recruited to make up the numbers. [ 2 3 ] The study area is a fishing settlement in the Niger delta region of Nigeria. This report evaluated the relationship between biomass smoke and lung function.…”

“…The index report focused on lung function and exposure. The article referenced as 1[ 2 ] focused on respiratory symptoms, while the article referenced as 2[ 3 ] focused on the psychological consequences of indoor air pollution.…”

“…In the article referenced as 2[ 3 ] the authors did mention the relationship between exposure and anxiety in the results section, as well as in the discussion.…”