Chronic respiratory disease among the elderly in South Africa : any association with proximity to mine dumps
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Date
Authors
Nkosi, Vusumuzi
Wichmann, Janine
Voyi, K.V.V. (Kuku)
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
BACKGROUND : There is increasing evidence that environmental factors such as air pollution from mine dumps,
increase the risk of chronic respiratory symptoms and diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the
association between proximity to mine dumps and prevalence of chronic respiratory disease in people aged
55 years and older.
METHODS : Elderly persons in communities 1-2 km (exposed) and 5 km (unexposed), from five pre-selected mine
dumps in Gauteng and North West Province, in South Africa were included in a cross-sectional study. Structured
interviews were conducted with 2397 elderly people, using a previously validated ATS-DLD-78 questionnaire from
the British Medical Research Council.
RESULTS : Exposed elderly persons had a significantly higher prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and
diseases than those who were unexposed., Results from the multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that
living close to mine dumps was significantly associated with asthma (OR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.20 – 2.05), chronic
bronchitis (OR = 1.74; 95 CI: 1.25 – 2.39), chronic cough (OR = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.58 – 2.57), emphysema (OR = 1.75;
95% CI: 1.11 – 2.77), pneumonia (OR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.07 – 1.77) and wheeze (OR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.73 – 2.54).
Residing in exposed communities, current smoking, ex-smoking, use of paraffin as main residential cooking/heating
fuel and low level of education emerged as independent significant risk factors for chronic respiratory symptoms
and diseases.
CONCLUSION : This study suggests that there is a high level of chronic respiratory symptoms and diseases among
elderly people in communities located near to mine dumps in South Africa.
Description
Additional file 1: Table S1. Prevalence of chronic respiratory
symptoms and diseases in relation to independent variables in all
11-study communities located 1-2 km and ≥5 km from mine dumps in
Gauteng and North West provinces, South Africa during November-December
2012.
Additional file 2: Table S2. Crude odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals of chronic respiratory symptoms and diseases in all 11-study communities located 1-2 km and ≥ 5km from mine dumps in Gauteng and North West provinces, South Africa during November-December 2012.
Additional file 3: Table S3. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals of chronic respiratory symptoms and diseases in all 11-study communities located 1-2 km and ≥5 km from mine dumps in Gauteng and North West provinces, South Africa during November-December 2012.
Additional file 2: Table S2. Crude odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals of chronic respiratory symptoms and diseases in all 11-study communities located 1-2 km and ≥ 5km from mine dumps in Gauteng and North West provinces, South Africa during November-December 2012.
Additional file 3: Table S3. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals of chronic respiratory symptoms and diseases in all 11-study communities located 1-2 km and ≥5 km from mine dumps in Gauteng and North West provinces, South Africa during November-December 2012.
Keywords
Mine dumps, Chronic respiratory diseases, Elderly, South Africa (SA)
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Nkosi, V, Wichmann, J & Voyi, K 2015, 'Chronic respiratory disease among the elderly in South Africa : any association with proximity to mine dumps', Environmental Health, vol. 14, art. no. 33, pp. 1-8.