%0 Journal Article
%T Exposure to Outdoor Air Pollution and Chronic Bronchitis in Adults: A Case-Control Study
%A P Salameh
%A J Salame
%A G Khayat
%A A Akhdar
%J International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
%D 2012
%I National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Health Organization
%X Background: Although Lebanon is a highly polluted country, so far no study has specifically been designed to assess the association between outdoor air pollution and chronic bronchitis in this country. Objective: To assess the association between exposure to outdoor air pollution and chronic bronchitis in Lebanon. Methods: A pilot case-control study was conducted in two tertiary care hospitals. Cases consisted of patients diagnosed with chronic bronchitis by a pulmonologist and those epidemiologically confirmed. Controls included individuals free of any respiratory signs or symptoms. After obtaining informed consent, a standardized questionnaire was administered. Results: Bivariate, stratified (over smoking status and gender) and multivariate analyses revealed that passive smoking at home (ORa: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.73每3.80) and at work (ORa: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.13每3.17); older age (ORa: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.55每2.39); lower education (ORa: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.21每1.72); living close to a busy road (ORa: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.31每 2.89) and to a local power plant (ORa: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.07每2.45); and heating home by hot air conditioning (ORa: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.00每3.43) were moderately associated with chronic bronchitis; an inverse association was found with heating home electrically (ORa: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.39每0.85). A positive dose-effect relationship was observed in those living close to a busy road and to a local diesel exhaust source. Conclusion: Chronic bronchitis is associated with outdoor air pollution.
%K Bronchitis
%K chronic
%K Air pollution
%K indoor
%K Pollution
%K environmental
%K Case-control studies
%U http://www.theijoem.com/ijoem/index.php/ijoem/article/view/168