IntroductionBiomass smoke exposure (BSE) is a recognized cause of COPD particularly in rural areas. However, little research has been focused on BSE in suburban areas.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of COPD, respiratory symptoms (RS) and BSE in women living in a suburban area of Mexico City exposed to BSE.MethodsA cross-sectional epidemiological survey of a female population aged >35 years was performed using a multistage cluster sampling strategy. The participants completed questionnaires on RS and COPD risk factors. The COPD prevalence was based on the postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio. Of the 1,333 women who completed the respiratory questionnaires, spirometry data were obtained from 1,190, and 969 of these were scored as A–C.ResultsThe prevalence of BSE was 47%, and the estimated prevalence of COPD was 2.5% for the total population (n=969) and 3.1% for those with BSE only. The spirometry and oximetry values were significantly lower in women with greater exposure levels. The prevalence of RS (cough, phlegm, wheezing and dyspnea) was significantly higher in the women with BSE compared to those without exposure. We concluded that the association of COPD with biomass exposure is not only a rural phenomenon but also may be observed in the suburban areas of the big cities.

Introduction The efficacy of long-acting bronchodilators for COPD associated with biomass (BE-COPD) has not been properly evaluated. Objective To determine the acute effect of indacaterol (IND) 150 μg q.d and tiotropium (TIO) 18 μg q.d. on lung hyperinflation, walking distance (WD) and dyspnea during the six-minute walking test (6MWT) in moderate BE-COPD at 30, 60 and 240 mins post-drug administration. Design Randomized, controlled, open-level, crossover noninferiority clinical trial. Forty-two women with BE-COPD were randomly assigned to a bronchodilator sequence: IND–TIO or vice versa. Results There were statistically significant changes over time in inspiratory capacity (IC) ( p <0.0001), FEV 1 ( p <0.0001) and FVC ( p <0.0001) when IND was used. When TIO was administered, an increase over all time periods was observed only for FEV 1 ( p <0.0001) and FVC ( p <0.0001), whereas for IC an increase was observed only at 30 mins and 24 hrs after TIO administration. We did not find clinically significant increases in WD and dyspnea after the administration of both bronchodilators. Conclusion Both IND and TIO showed significant and fast onset improvement in hyperinflation. Therefore, either of them may be recommended as a first line of treatment for COPD associated with BE-COPD.

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