TY - JOUR T1 - Spatial distribution of COPD in a rural population in India using geographic information system (GIS) JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - p1004 AU - Veena Muralidharan AU - Sundeep Salvi AU - Jyoti Londhe AU - Somnath Sambhudas AU - Vijendra Ingole AU - Peter Barnes AU - Sanjay Juvekar Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p1004.abstract N2 - GIS mapping is a useful tool to study the spatial distribution of diseases and examine their association with geographic risk factors.Aim: We used GIS to determine spatial distribution of COPD in 22 rural villages spread across an area of 232 km2, and study the association between proximity to highways and prevalence of COPD.Methods: 3,592 randomly selected individuals were administered a respiratory health questionnaire and underwent pre and post bronchodilator spirometry (ndd Spirometer) according to the ATS/ERS standards. COPD was defined as post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC<0.7. Each individual's residence was mapped using Global Positioning system (Garmin eTrex, USA). Spatial distribution of all individuals and the association between proximity to highway and prevalence of COPD were performed using ArcGIS software version 9.3, USA.Results: A significant cluster of COPD subjects were found residing <500m from the highway (Moran's Index = 0.07; p<0.01). 90% of individuals residing <500m from the highway used liquefied petroleum gas for cooking and in this population a strong positive correlation was found between proximity to highways and COPD prevalence (r2= 0.946; p<0.04). Individuals who resided >500m from the highway had a higher prevalence of COPD and this was strongly associated with the use of biomass fuel [OR: 1.46 (CI: 1.06-2.0); p<0.01].Conclusion: Residing <500m from the highway was strongly and positively associated with COPD. The prevalence of COPD was three-fold higher amongst those living >500m from the highway and this was significantly associated with the use of biomass fuel. ER -