Noncommunicable Respiratory Disease and Air Pollution Exposure in Malawi (CAPS). A Cross-Sectional Study

RationaleNoncommunicable respiratory diseases and exposure to air pollution are thought to be important contributors to morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan African adults.ObjectivesWe set out to explore the prevalence and determinants of noncommunicable respiratory disease among adults living in Chikhwawa District, Malawi.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional study among adults in communities participating in a randomized controlled trial of a cleaner-burning biomass-fueled cookstove intervention (CAPS [Cooking and Pneumonia Study]) in rural Malawi. We assessed chronic respiratory symptoms, spirometric abnormalities, and personal exposure to air pollution (particulate matter