PASSIVE SMOKING EXPOSURE AND RISK OF COPD IN A POPULATION OF NEVER SMOKERS IN CHINA

P Yin, P Adab, CQ Jiang, GN Thomas, TH Lam, H Lam, WS Zhang, XQ Lao, KK Cheng

Department of Public Health & Epidemiology

The University of Birmingham

Edgbaston

Birmingham

B15 2TT

 

Background 
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common health problem in China. This population is also exposed to high levels of passive smoking, yet little information exists on the effects of such exposure on COPD. We examined this relationship in an older Chinese population.

Methods 
We used baseline data from The Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study. Of 17,563 participants recruited from 2003-05, 10,766 never smokers aged over 50 were included in this analysis. We used two self-reported measures of passive smoking exposure at home and work. Diagnosis of COPD was based on spirometry (FEV1/FVC<70% and FEV1<80% predicted).

Results
 There was a relationship between risk of COPD and exposure to passive smoking at work (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.06-2.29 for working years equivalent of exposure ≥16 years). There was no statistically significant association between COPD risk and passive smoking exposure at home during childhood or adulthood.

Interpretation
Exposure to passive smoking at work is associated with an increased prevalence of COPD. If this association is causal, we estimate that 960,000 excess deaths from COPD among never smokers may be attributable to passive smoking in China. Our findings provide support for banning smoking in workplaces in China.

 

Abbreviations:
COPD=chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CI=confident interval; OR=odds ratio; FEV1=forced expiratory volume in one second; FVC=forced vital capacity.

 

 

 

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