Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Vapors, Gases, Dusts, or Fumes (VGDF): A Meta-analysis

Abstract

To evaluate the association between the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and exposure to vapors, gases, dusts, or fumes (VGDF), we conducted a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. We searched for studies investigating the relationship between COPD and occupational exposure to VGDF in the adult population. The bibliographic search was conducted in databases (PubMed and Google Scholar). Eleven studies that met predetermined inclusion criteria were included in the meta-analysis. We calculated the pooled odds ratio (OR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) of COPD for exposure to VGDF using a random-effects model. The presence of publication bias was explored. There was moderate heterogeneity among the included studies (I(2) = 54.3%). In a random-effects model meta-analysis, the pooled OR for exposure to VGDF was 1.43 for COPD (95% CI: 1.19-1.73) compared with no exposure to VGDF. Publication bias was not observed in this study. Our study suggests that exposure to VGDF is associated with a higher risk of COPD. Further prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm this association.

Keywords: epidemiologic study; occupational exposure; pooled odds ratio; subgroup-analysis.