Prevalence and Risk Factors of COPD in Nepal: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Pravash  Budhathoki; Dhan Bahadur Shrestha; Yub Raj  Sedhai; Ramkaji  Baniya; Ayush  Bhatt; Kabita  Chaudhary; Astutee  Acharya; Ruja  Rajkarnikar; Madan  Basnet; Alok  Atreya

doi:10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.3543

Pravash Budhathoki Department of Internal Medicine, BronxCare Health System, Bronx, NY, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8856-5417
Dhan Bahadur Shrestha Department of Internal Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA
Yub Raj Sedhai Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1755-5489
Ramkaji Baniya Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center; Baton Rouge, LA, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4654-3169
Ayush Bhatt Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal
Kabita Chaudhary Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal
Astutee Acharya Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal
Ruja Rajkarnikar Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
Madan Basnet Department of Pediatrics, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
Alok Atreya Department of Forensic Medicine, Lumbini Medical College Teaching Hospital, Palpa-32500, Nepal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.3543

Abstract

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a common, preventable, and treatable disease. Here, we conducted a systematic review of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and its risk factors in Nepal for the last two decades.
Methods: We systematically searched databases to find all relevant Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease research papers from 2000 to 2020. Two reviewers screened the literature using Covidence based on the study protocol. Data extraction was done using Microsoft Excel from selected studies. Final data analysis was done using CMA v.3. Our review protocol is available in PROSPERO (CRD42020215486) on 20 November 2020.
Results: The database search revealed 1416 studies of which 13 were included in quantitative analysis. The prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the adult population was 22·7% (CI, 12·5-37·7) of whom 54·9% were female (CI, 51·9-57·9). Nearly three-fourth of the participants (73·1%) of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease patients had informal education (CI, 58·6-84·0). The commonest primary occupation was agriculture and farming in 39·4% (CI, 31·3-48·2), followed by homemaker (36·8%). It was observed that 28·5% of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease patients were former smokers, 25·8% non-smokers, and 59·4% were current smokers. More than two-third (76·2%) of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease patients relied upon traditional firewood cooking, whereas only 14.6% was adopted fireless cooking.
Conclusions: The pooled prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Nepal was significantly high with more cases in females compared to males. Smoking and traditional firewood cooking were major risk factors among Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease cases in Nepal.
Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; cooking; tobacco smoking.