The prevalence rate of chronic airway's diseases in women and associated risk factors in developing countries are not well clarified. We evaluated the role of indoor duties in the prevalence of asthma, chronic bronchitis, and related symptoms among females in Isfahan suburbs. In three randomly selected villages, 561 responder females (response rate=95.25%) were evaluated through medical interview and physical examinations. Symptoms, signs, occupational and smoking histories, indoor and farming duties, possible outdoor jobs, housing and farming conditions were assessed. The observed respiratory morbidities were: current asthma (11.2%), history of asthma (1.3%), using asthma medications in life (15.2%), chronic bronchitis (3.4%), exercise-induced dyspnea and/or cough (16.2%), and frequent night coughs and/or dyspnea (15.3%). Age, childhood pulmonary infection, bread baking, carpet weaving and using biomass fuels were significant risk factors for all the pulmonary morbidities (P<0.05 to <0.001). Poultry feeding, using kerosene and gas fuels, were less strong risk factors for asthma and chronic bronchitis, respectively Only seven women were current or ex-smokers. Indoor respirable particulate matters were two to four folds more concentrated than outdoors. Women doing indoor jobs in Iran are potential risk factors for development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Villagers residing in areas with rice farms are exposed to smoke from burning of agricultural waste that may affect respiratory health. To assess respiratory effects of this smoke-induced air pollution, a cross-sectional study has been conducted in three randomly selected villages of Isfahan rural areas. A physician-administered health questionnaire was completed for 433 male and 561 female villagers aged 1-80 years, followed by physical examinations and spirometry in symptomatic cases, before and after a rice burning episode in October 2000. Total particulate and respirable particulate maters (PM 10 was doubled during burning episode. Prevalence rates for respiratory symptoms before smoke were: recent asthma attacks (7.7%), using asthma medications (3%), sleep disturbed by dyspnea and cough (7.4%), exercise-induced cough (13.3%), which increased to 9.5, 7.1, 9.3 and 17%, respectively. Mean initial values (as percent of prediction) for; FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEFR, and FEF25-75 were: 85.9 +/- 22.7, 81.7 +/- 8, 86.2 +/- 26.2 and 60 +/- 26.4, respectively. The mentioned values decreased to to 83.2 +/- 19.5, 76.5 +/- 10.3, 85.5 +/- 21.1 and 54.3 +/- 26.4, respectively. All of the clinical and spirometric changes were statistically significant. Study findings suggest increased respiratory morbidity associated with rice burning episodes among all people living in the area.
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