The association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with the use of gas for cooking; results from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey

Abstract

The European Community Respiratory Health Survey is a large multicentre study designed to examine risk factors for respiratory symptoms in young adults. We have analysed data from participating centres to examine the association between respiratory symptoms and lung function and the use of gas for cooking. In each centre a random sample of adults was invited to complete a questionnaire which obtained information on respiratory symptoms, the use of gas for cooking and smoking history and to perform respiratory function tests. The analysis was conducted on 5561 men and 6029 women living in 23 centres in 11 countries. The association of the use of gas for cooking with respiratory symptoms and respiratory function was assessed by logistic and multiple regression models. Tests for interaction were used to examine whether the effect of gas cooking varied between centres and as there was evidence for this, the average effects were estimated using standard methods for random effects meta-analysis. There was no significant association between respiratory symptoms and gas cooking in men. In women the association between some respiratory symptoms and gas cooking varied between centres with an overall positive association with 'wheeze in the last 12 months' (odds ratio 1.24: 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.54) and 'wheeze with breathlessness in the last 12 months' (odds ratio 1.33: 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.69). In general gas cooking was associated with respiratory symptoms in Northern and Mid-Europe but not in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Cooking with gas was associated with airways obstruction in both men and women although the differences failed to reach statistical significance. It is possible that the health effects of gas cooking are modifed by the nature of the gas or some other factor as yet undetermined.