Impact of chronic biomass smoke exposure on pulmonary function and respiratory health in elderly women: A rural perspective.

Introduction: Chronic exposure to biomass smoke is a significant health concern, particularly in rural areas where women are primarily responsible for household cooking using organic fuels. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of biomass smoke exposure on pulmonary function and its associated risk factors among elderly women.

Materials and methods: A total of 474 women were screened, of whom 115 were exclusively exposed to biomass smoke, and 32 participants aged ≥65 years were included in the elderly cohort. Pulmonary function tests were performed using a calibrated spirometer, assessing reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC ratio. Logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between pulmonary outcomes and exposure duration, demographic characteristics, and comorbidities.

Result: Among all participants, obstructive lung disease (FEV1/FVC< 70%) was observed in 84.3%, while restrictive patterns were found in 16.7%. Prolonged biomass smoke exposure was significantly associated with lower FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC ratios (p< 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression identified exposure duration as an independent predictor of obstruction [Odds ratio (OR)= 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI)= 1.08-1.44, p< 0.001]. In the elderly subgroup, logistic regression confirmed a significant association between biomass exposure duration and obstruction (OR= 1.26, 95% CI= 1.02-1.57, p= 0.035), while linear regression revealed a negative correlation between exposure duration and FEV1/FVC ratio (β= -0.65, 95% CI= -0.09 to -0.03, p< 0.001).

Conclusions: Prolonged exposure to biomass smoke is strongly associated with deteriorated pulmonary function, particularly among elderly women. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to reduce biomass smoke exposure and improve respiratory health in vulnerable rural populations.