THE ASSOCIATION OF RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS AND LUNG-FUNCTION WITH THE USE OF GAS FOR COOKING

The association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with the use of gas for cooking was examined using data collected as part of the E uropean Community Respiratory Health Survey, an international multicen tre study. Associations between gas cooking and respiratory symptoms a nd respiratory function were assessed by logistic and multiple regress ion models. Tests for interaction were used to examine whether the eff ect of gas cooking varied between centres and, as there was evidence f or this, the average effects were estimated using standard methods for random effects meta-analysis. Data from 5,561 males and 6,029 females living in 23 centres in 11 countries were analysed. There was no sign ificant association found between respiratory symptoms and gas cooking in males. In females the association between some respiratory symptom s and gas cooking varied between centres with an overall positive asso ciation with ''wheeze in the last 12 months'' (odds ratio (OR) 1.24: 9 5% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.00-1.54) and ''wheeze with breathles sness in the last 12 months'' (OR 1.33: 95% CI 1.06-1.69), There was n o evidence that atopy modified this association. Cooking with gas was associated with airways obstruction in both males and females although the differences failed to reach statistical significance. In some cou ntries the use of gas for cooking is associated with respiratory sympt oms suggestive of airways obstruction in females.