Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter Pollution and risk of COPD exacerbation

We hypothesized that exposure to ambient particulate matter exacerbate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in participants. We documented a markedly elevated COPD prevalence of 63.5%, substantially exceeding general population estimates reported from other low- and middle-income countries. These findings underscore a considerable and under-recognized burden of chronic respiratory disease among urban informal workers in Ghana and comparable sub-Saharan African (SSA) settings. A qualified technician and two medical personnel performed the lung function test to determine any obstructive or restrictive syndrome. If an obstruction was detected, the spirometry test was repeated after administering a bronchodilator (2 puffs of salbutamol) to reassess lung function. This process was done between 9 – 12 hours and was guided by the 2019 American Thoracic Society guidelines for spirometry. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second of exhalation (FEV1), and the FEV1/FVC ratio were measured in sitting and standing positions for both participants. The data was collected from two high risk working groups -drivers and traders- at two of the busiest transport stations in Accra (Circle and Kaneshie). A consecutive sampling technique was adopted to ensure that participants who refused consent were replaced with the next participant. The lung function text should be interpreted based on universally agreed cut-off points. Any researcher interested in lung function test studies can use this data.