PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Jayaweera, Gihani
AU  - Wimalasekera, Savithri
AU  - Goonewardena, Sampatha
TI  - FENO and spirometry for the assessment of respiratory functions of women exposed to biomass fuel smoke: A cross sectional study in Sri Lanka
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2020.2167
DP  - 2020 Sep 07
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 2167
VI  - 56
IP  - suppl 64
4099  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/56/suppl_64/2167.short
4100  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/56/suppl_64/2167.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2020 Sep 07; 56
AB  - Exposure to biomass fuel (BMF) smoke during cooking is a leading cause of indoor air pollution in developing countries. Prolonged exposure to BMF smoke is known to cause respiratory dysfunction which can be detected by spirometry. Exhaled breath nitric oxide measured by fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) is a noninvasive biomarker of eosinophilic airway inflammation (EAI). The aim was to assess respiratory functions of women exposed to BMF smoke in Sri Lanka using FENO and spirometry. Adult females using BMF were studied (n=358). Base line data, cooking fuel use and respiratory symptoms were assessed by a questionnaire. Spirometry (Cosmed Pony FX spirometer, Italy) and FENO using NObreath FENO monitor (Bedfont Scientific Ltd, UK) were performed. 50.8% of women were using BMF for cooking for more than 30 years. The mean BMF smoke exposure was 5.9 (± 2.3 SD) hours per day. EAI as indicated by FENO > 25ppb was observed in 41.6% (n=149) females. Amongst these females 22.6% (n=81) were asymptomatic. Spirometry results showing an obstructive airway disease pattern was observed only in 3.9% (n=14) women. Another 17.4% (n=63) of women showed restrictive airway disease pattern. FENO is a useful test to detect early airway inflammation before spirometry changes can be observed. It is a simple, non-invasive and user-compliant test. Thus, it can be used for the routine screening of respiratory functions in communities challenged by environmental exposures such as BMF smoke facilitating early diagnosis of respiratory dysfunction.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 2167.This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).