Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm) in Individuals with Respiratory Symptoms Exposed to Wood Stoves

Objective: To investigate respiratory symptoms in patients who had never smoked but reported prolonged exposure time (ET) to wood-burning stove smoke. Method: Cross-sectional study carried out in a private practice from January 2019 to November 2021. Data on professional history, respiratory symptoms, and spirometry were collected. Results: A total of 101 patients were evaluated, 80 of whom were women and 53.47% were at least 60 years old. Eighteen patients (17.82%) were rural workers and 60.40% performed other occupational activities. Thirty-four (33%) patients reported exposure to wood-burning stove smoke for more than 40 years and 76 (75%) reported having two or more respiratory symptoms at the time of the medical examination, of which 51.49% reported cough, 59.41% reported dyspnea, 21.78% reported wheezing, and 20.79% reported chest pain. Approximately 64.36% were classified as PRISm and approximately 23.76% of the sample had an obstructive pattern in spirometry. No association was found between TE, symptoms and spirometric alterations. Conclusion: Patients exposed to wood stove smoke for a prolonged period, but who have never smoked, have a higher risk of respiratory symptoms, even if lung function is within normal limits. Most of our sample was classified as PRISm.