Impact of main living room’s ventilation quality on occurrence of obstructive pulmonary diseases (Asthma and COPD) in Medina (Senegal)

Abstract Indoor air pollution is the underlying cause of 4 million deaths worldwide, of which 11% is directly attributable to obstructive pulmonary disease. This study made it possible to characterize indoor air pollution in the Medina (Dakar) and to estimate occurrence risk of obstructive pulmonary diseases associated to lack of ventilation in main living room. This is a cross-sectional study combining a socio-demographic survey, air quality metrology (CO, PM10, NO, CO2) and a Functional Respiratory Assessment (spirometry). Estimation of the risk was carried out by logistic regression by adjusting for a certain number of factors. Participants are distributed between 27 households using mainly gas (55.56%) and charcoal (29.63%) as cooking fuel and closed kitchens with window (66.67%). Obstructive pulmonary diseases are noted with an estimated prevalence of 33.06%. Regarding pollutants, levels are below WHO guidelines: CO (3.81 ppm), CO2 (531.5 ppm), PM10 (0.27 µg/m3) and NO (2.88 µg/m3). In addition, study reveals an occurrence risk (AOR [95%CI]) of obstructive pulmonary diseases multiplied by 2.54 [1.27–5.08] where ventilation of main living room is medium and for exposure to poor ventilation, risk is multiplied by 2.06 [1.02–4.17]. These results therefore suggest indoor air quality, in particular renewal of air in main living room, as a factor determining residents respiratory health.