High altitude and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevalence: a casual or causal correlation?

Archivos de bronconeumología
Rafael Laniado-LaborinO Bauerle

Abstract

Studies on the relationship of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence and altitude have reported contrasting results. The aim of this COPD case-finding study was to include a larger number of geographical sites to determine if there is an association between altitude and COPD prevalence. Individuals aged 40 or older with known COPD risk factors, whether symptomatic or not, were referred by primary-care physicians. After obtaining written informed consent, they were invited to answer a questionnaire and undergo pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry. Subjects were recruited in 27 Mexican cities, within an altitude range from 1 to 2,680 m above sea level. We found a weak (-0.31; P<.0001) although significant negative correlation between altitude and COPD prevalence. The COPD rate for cities located ≤1,000 m was 32.7% vs 16.4% for cities located >1,000 m (P<.0001); the rate for cities located at ≤2,000 m was 22.7% vs 15.6% for those >2,000 m; in the multiple logistic regression analysis, older age, male sex, tobacco habit, pack-years of smoking, years of exposure to biomass smoke and city altitude over sea level were significantly associated with COPD prevalence. Our data shows a significant inverse correlation b...Continue Reading

References

May 1, 1993·The American Review of Respiratory Disease·C H WelshC S Houston
Sep 25, 1999·The Journal of Asthma : Official Journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma·M H VargasM DeLeón-González
Aug 6, 2002·Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology·Adrian P HavrykKeith R Burgess
Dec 16, 2003·High Altitude Medicine & Biology·Steve WoodMarlowe Eldridge
Jun 29, 2004·The European Respiratory Journal·B R CelliUNKNOWN ATS/ERS Task Force
Mar 2, 2006·The European Respiratory Journal·R Perez-PadillaUNKNOWN Proyecto Latinoamericano de Investigacion en Obstruccion Pulmonar (PLATINO) group
Feb 7, 2008·Chest·David M Mannino
May 18, 2011·The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease : the Official Journal of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease·R Laniado-LaborinO Bauerle

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 7, 2017·High Altitude Medicine & Biology·Jeffrey C RobinsonTodd M Bull
Nov 23, 2018·The European Respiratory Journal·Evelyn A BrakemaNiels H Chavannes
Aug 25, 2017·Respiratory Research·Andreas HornerUNKNOWN PREPOCOL Study Group

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease : the Official Journal of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
R Laniado-LaborinO Bauerle
Primary Care Respiratory Journal : Journal of the General Practice Airways Group
Raph HamersNiels Chavannes
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved