Copd, a rising concern for non smokers! is it true?

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In clinical practice non smokers COPD patients are on rise, the risk factors which are important in its development were evaluated. Materials and Methods: This observational cross sectional study included a total 298 patients, with age above 18 years, diagnosed clinically and on spirometry as per Gold guidelines fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Results: Of the 298 patients 150(50•34%) were non smokers and 148 (49•66%) were smokers. Males were the predominant gender, most of them more than 60 years, with comparable mean age.COPD were found at an early age in smoker’s population. Most of the patients in non smokers group had moderate obstruction (73•34%). Statiscally significant risk factors identified were occupational exposure (86•67%), education level (55•34%), biomass exposure (39•34%), passive smoking (31•33%), associated conditions of pulmonary tuberculosis (22•67%) and chronic asthma (16%) (P<0•001). Other risk factors like outdoor air pollution (84%), low socioecomic status (70%), childhood admissions (13•34%) though not statistically significant, contributed in development of non smokers COPD. BMI in non smoker’s population was lower than smokers 22.08+2.11. Most of the patients 50 (84•75%) of non smokers population having biomass exposure had index more than sixty. Patients were classified according to gold stage and compared. The predominant gender was male in both groups with almost similar mean age and most of them above sixty years. The Gold Stage II+ group had higher outdoor air pollution (95%), occupational exposure (62•5%), childhood admissions (17•5%), biomass exposure (47•5%), passive smoking years 28+2.01 and lower BMI (20•2 + 0•75 P < 0•001). Conclusion: It can be concluded that non smokers COPD forms significant proportion of COPD patient in our region and early diagnosis can be made by identifying the risk factors