Epidemic situation and risk factors of COPD among rural residents

Objective To examine the prevalence and relevant risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among rural residents in Hunan province and to provide basis for the prevention and treatment of COPD.Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among 4 021 residents aged over 15 years with simple cluster random sampling method in three villages of You county.All respondents filled out a unified epidemiological questionnaire and received a physical examination and lung function test.The respondents with forced expiratory volume in 1s/forced vital capacity (FEV₁/FVC) < 70% were further examined with X-ray inspection.The data collected were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression method.Results The number of respondents was 4 003 with a response rate of 97%.There were 213 respondents diagnosed with COPD with a total prevalence rate of 5.32%.The prevalence of COPD was 8.7% in the males and 2.2% in the females.The prevalence of COPD in the males was significantly higher than that in the females (χ²=84.838,P< 0.05).The prevalence increased with increment of age(P< 0.05).The respondents with higher education had a lower prevalence of COPD.The odds ratio(OR) of COPP for age was 1.48(P< 0.05) and OR for male was 14.16 (P<0.05).The OR of COPD for the smokers was 1.79(P< 0.05) and the prevalence of COPD was related to smoking intensity.The passive smoking increased the risk of COPD with an OR of 10.73(P< 0.05).The OR for COPD in the residents without paternal family history of chronic pulmonary disease was 0.09 (P< 0.05).The time of cooking above six month increased the risk of COPD with an OR of 5.73(P< 0.05).Using coal and firew ood fuels in cooking and warming raised the prevalence of COPD (OR=3.44,P< 0.05).The occupational inhalation of dust and exposed to harmful gas increased the risk of COPD with an OR of 6.16(P< 0.05).The OR of COPD for education level was 0.07(P< 0.05).Conclusion The prevalence of COPD in rural residents of Hunan province is high and there are many relevant risk factors of COPD.