Comparison of the effects of smoking and biomass exposure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background and aim: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth most common cause of death in the World. Cigarette smoking is the most well known cause yet biomass smoke exposure (BSE) is an important cause of adverse health effects and mortality. In this study we aimed to evaluate effects of biomass smoke on pulmonary fucnction tests, patients characteristics and co-morbid diseases in patients with COPD. Materials and Methods: We included hundred and five men, seventy five women in a total hundred and eighty smoking subjects and hundred and nineteen women with biomass exposure diagnosed with COPD according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Results: We found smoker male patients with COPD have the lowest levels of FEV 1 (44.4%±15) compared to smoker women (51.2 %±11) and biomass exposed patients (54%±11). Smoker women had the highest levels of body mass index (BMI) (29.4±7.3). We found no difference between BMI of biomas exposed patients (27.5±5.1) and smokers with mixed gender (27.5±5.1). FEV 1 levels of patients with biomass were higher (54±11) than those of smokers with mixed gender (47.1±14). Conclusions: Biomass seems to be less harmfull than cigarette smoking but it is still a big problem for undeveloped and developing countries particularly for women.