Drews, ArneLama, PoonamNepal, NirajJoshi, Rajesh DhojGran, AnjaSchreiber, Jens2026-02-032026-02-032022https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14572/4480Arne Drews Nepalmed e.V., Germany Poonam Lama Department of Internal Medicine, Kathmandu Model and Kirtipur Hospital, Nepal Niraj Nepal Department of Internal Medicine, Kathmandu Model and Kirtipur Hospital, Nepal Rajesh Dhoj Joshi Department of Internal Medicine, Kathmandu Model and Kirtipur Hospital, Nepal Anja Gran Nepalmed e.V., Germany Jens Schreiber Nepalmed e.V., Germany and University Hospital, Dept. Pneumonology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, GermanyAbstract: Background: The relevance of the obstructive lung diseases asthma and COPD and IgE-mediated allergy in Nepal is still poorly characterized. Method: In a cross-sectional study in rural Nepal 199 persons were characterized with a questionnaire, skin prick tests, spirometry and total IgE concentration in serum. Results: About 20% of the women and 50% of the men were current smokers. Half of the study population used biomass fuel at home to cook or to heat and 70% of the study participants experienced dust-exposure at work or at home. 50% of the women and 30% of the men had a history of COPD, while 57% of the women and 53% of the men had symptoms of respiratory allergy. 18% of the women and 16% of the men used inhaler devices. 62% of the women and 66% of the men had a total IgE concentration in serum >100 IU/mL. About 30% of the women had a FEV1 < 80% and about 10 % had a FEV1 < 40%, also 30% of the men had a FEV1 <80% but none of the men had a FEV1 <40%. The FEV1/VC ratio was smaller than 70% in 13 % of the women and 14,6% of the men. We observed a significant inverse correlation between serum IgE with FEV1. 14% of study participants had positive prick test for house dust mite, 5% were positive for cat dander and 3% were positive for mugwort. Conclusion: In summary this study shows an relevant burden of obstructive pulmonary disorders and IgE-mediated allergy in a rural Nepalese population.en-USAllergyBronchial asthmaCOPDNepalArticle