Lung function declines in young adults in rural Uganda

In a cohort of 902 adults in rural Uganda, researchers tracked respiratory health using up to three spirometry tests across four years. The participants had a median age of 35 years, 56% were women, and 75% had never smoked. At baseline, abnormal lung function affected 14% of participants, occurring more frequently in women and individuals with chronic respiratory symptoms. Across the cohort, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) declined by 10 mL per year, while the FEV₁/forced vital capacity ratio declined by 0.006 per year. Among participants entering the study with normal lung function, decline occurred faster, with FEV₁ falling by 18 mL per year and FEV₁/forced vital capacity dropping 0.66% predicted per year. Sex, smoking status, and socioeconomic status did not modify decline rates.