Linkages between household environment and chronic respiratory disease among the elderly in India: evidence from LASI survey

Introduction Exposure to ambient air pollution has a significant health effect in terms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is responsible for a large proportion of deaths in low and middle-income countries, and in India, it is the second leading cause of mortality. The study examines the linkages between COPD and the socioeconomic, demographic, household environmental and behavioural factors of the respondents. Methods The present study used a longitudinal study design and utilized data on 64,169 individuals aged 45 years and older from the first wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI). A multivariable binary logistic regression was conducted to simultaneously assess the influence of background characteristics on the prevalence of COPD. Results The prevalence was highest among the respondents (33%) in the age category 70–79 years; respondents living in urban areas are 1.38 times more likely to have COPD than rural residents. Households of the respondents using solid fuel for cooking were 1.2 times more likely to have COPD. Households where one room is used by seven or more people for sleeping are at the highest odds (prevalence = 26.58%, OR = 3.84) of COPD. Shortness of breath (AOR = 11.21) while awake, wheezing sound (AOR = 5.71) from the chest and cough with or without phlegm (AOR = 4.22) were significantly associated with COPD. COPD has a significant association with chronic diseases. Conclusions The study found that predictors such as age, place of residence, use of solid fuel for cooking, household crowding, gender, economic status, tobacco smoking, and already having respiratory symptoms were significantly associated with COPD among the respondents.