Extract
The relationship between altitude and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains controversial. Altitude per se is a relevant variable for respiratory health, as subjects living at high altitude are exposed to lower atmospheric pressure, which by affecting the driving pressure for gas exchange in the lungs leads to hypoxia [1]. It has been reported that high altitude natives have larger lungs and higher forced vital capacity (FVC) than predicted, potentially as an adaptation mechanism, which is relevant for COPD research, as it consequently leads to lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s to FVC ratios [2–4].
Abstract
Household air pollution, whose relationship with COPD is still understudied, is yet another factor explaining the complex relationship between altitude and COPD http://ow.ly/Ao4K30nmxDt
Acknowledgement
I thank Otavio Ranzani (ISGlobal) for critical reading of the text. ISGlobal is a member of the CERCA Programme, Generalitat de Catalunya.
Footnotes
Conflict of interest: X. Basagaña has nothing to disclose.
- Received December 27, 2018.
- Accepted January 9, 2019.
- Copyright ©ERS 2019