Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Occupational exposure to charcoal smoke and dust is a threat to workers\' respiratory systems.
OBJECTIVE: What is the prevalence of COPD in charcoal workers as compared with farmers in rural areas of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)?
METHODS: This cross-sectional, comparative, and multisite study was performed in the charcoal-producing provinces of southwestern DRC. We randomly included charcoal workers and compared them with farmers (age range, 18-70 years). Air quality indexes, anthropometric features, physical activity, sociodemographic characteristics, and related medical events data were recorded. A lung function questionnaire was used to assess respiratory symptoms and spirometry was performed. COPD was defined as the presence of respiratory symptoms for > 3 months with an FEV1 to FVC ratio less than the lower limit of normal. The prevalence of COPD was calculated, and logistic regression was used to identify COPD-associated factors.
RESULTS: We included 485 participants between August 2020 and July 2021. Charcoal producers (CPs; n = 229) were compared with farmers (n = 118), and charcoal saleswomen (CSs; n = 72) were compared with vegetable saleswomen (VSs; n = 66). Respective groups were similar in age, job seniority, height, and weight. The air was more polluted at charcoal workplaces. The prevalence of COPD was higher in CPs than in farmers (39.7% vs 14.4%; P < .0001) and higher in CSs compared with VSs (40.3% vs 13.6%; P < .0001). Being a charcoal worker was associated independently with COPD in the CP and farmers groups (adjusted OR, 3.54; 95% CI, 1.94-6.46) and in the saleswomen group (adjusted OR, 7.85; 95% CI, 2.85-21.5), where it was also associated independently with young age (adjusted OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.80-0.93) and monthly income (adjusted OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.83-0.96).
CONCLUSIONS: In rural areas of DRC, producing or selling charcoal is associated with a higher risk of COPD.
OBJECTIVE: What is the prevalence of COPD in charcoal workers as compared with farmers in rural areas of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)?
METHODS: This cross-sectional, comparative, and multisite study was performed in the charcoal-producing provinces of southwestern DRC. We randomly included charcoal workers and compared them with farmers (age range, 18-70 years). Air quality indexes, anthropometric features, physical activity, sociodemographic characteristics, and related medical events data were recorded. A lung function questionnaire was used to assess respiratory symptoms and spirometry was performed. COPD was defined as the presence of respiratory symptoms for > 3 months with an FEV1 to FVC ratio less than the lower limit of normal. The prevalence of COPD was calculated, and logistic regression was used to identify COPD-associated factors.
RESULTS: We included 485 participants between August 2020 and July 2021. Charcoal producers (CPs; n = 229) were compared with farmers (n = 118), and charcoal saleswomen (CSs; n = 72) were compared with vegetable saleswomen (VSs; n = 66). Respective groups were similar in age, job seniority, height, and weight. The air was more polluted at charcoal workplaces. The prevalence of COPD was higher in CPs than in farmers (39.7% vs 14.4%; P < .0001) and higher in CSs compared with VSs (40.3% vs 13.6%; P < .0001). Being a charcoal worker was associated independently with COPD in the CP and farmers groups (adjusted OR, 3.54; 95% CI, 1.94-6.46) and in the saleswomen group (adjusted OR, 7.85; 95% CI, 2.85-21.5), where it was also associated independently with young age (adjusted OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.80-0.93) and monthly income (adjusted OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.83-0.96).
CONCLUSIONS: In rural areas of DRC, producing or selling charcoal is associated with a higher risk of COPD.
摘要：
背景：职业接触木炭烟雾和粉尘对工人呼吸系统构成威胁。
目的：与刚果民主共和国（DRC）农村地区的农民相比，木炭工人中慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）的患病率是多少？
方法：本横断面，比较,在西南刚果民主共和国的木炭生产省进行了多地点研究。
方法：我们随机纳入了木炭工人，并将他们与农民（18至70岁）进行了比较。空气质量指数,人体测量学,身体活动,社会人口统计学特征，并记录相关医疗事件数据.使用肺功能问卷评估呼吸道症状（RS）并进行肺活量测定。COPD定义为RS存在3个月以上，FEV1/FVC比值低于正常下限。计算COPD的患病率，采用logistic回归分析确定COPD相关因素.
结果：我们在2020年8月至2021年7月期间纳入了485名受试者。木炭生产商（CP，n=229)与农民(n=118)进行了比较，和木炭女售货员(CS，n=72)与蔬菜售货员(VS，n=66）。各个群体的年龄相似，工作资历,高度,和重量。木炭工作场所的空气污染更严重。慢性阻塞性肺病的患病率高于农民(39.7%vs14.4%;P<0.0001),CS与VS相比（40.3%vs13.6%；P<0.0001）。在CP和农民组中，作为木炭工人与COPD独立相关：调整后的OR，3.54（95%CI，1.94-6.46），and,女售货员组：7.85(95%CI，2.85-21.5)，其中它也与年轻年龄：0.85（0.80-0.93）和月收入：0.88（0.83-0.96）独立相关。
结论：在刚果民主共和国的农村地区，生产或销售木炭与COPD的高风险相关。
目的：与刚果民主共和国（DRC）农村地区的农民相比，木炭工人中慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）的患病率是多少？
方法：本横断面，比较,在西南刚果民主共和国的木炭生产省进行了多地点研究。
方法：我们随机纳入了木炭工人，并将他们与农民（18至70岁）进行了比较。空气质量指数,人体测量学,身体活动,社会人口统计学特征，并记录相关医疗事件数据.使用肺功能问卷评估呼吸道症状（RS）并进行肺活量测定。COPD定义为RS存在3个月以上，FEV1/FVC比值低于正常下限。计算COPD的患病率，采用logistic回归分析确定COPD相关因素.
结果：我们在2020年8月至2021年7月期间纳入了485名受试者。木炭生产商（CP，n=229)与农民(n=118)进行了比较，和木炭女售货员(CS，n=72)与蔬菜售货员(VS，n=66）。各个群体的年龄相似，工作资历,高度,和重量。木炭工作场所的空气污染更严重。慢性阻塞性肺病的患病率高于农民(39.7%vs14.4%;P<0.0001),CS与VS相比（40.3%vs13.6%；P<0.0001）。在CP和农民组中，作为木炭工人与COPD独立相关：调整后的OR，3.54（95%CI，1.94-6.46），and,女售货员组：7.85(95%CI，2.85-21.5)，其中它也与年轻年龄：0.85（0.80-0.93）和月收入：0.88（0.83-0.96）独立相关。
结论：在刚果民主共和国的农村地区，生产或销售木炭与COPD的高风险相关。
