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Updated: May 24, 2026

Studying Effects of Cigarette Smoke on Pseudomonas Infection in Lung Epithelial Cells
Published on: May 11, 2020
[COPD 2011: are there other risk factors than tobacco?]
Pierre-Olivier Bridevaux1, Thierry Rochat
1Service de pneumologie, Département des spécialités médicales, HUG, 1211 Genève 14. Pierre-Olivier.Bridevaux@hcuge.ch
Abstract:
Prevalence of COPD is under-estimated, and more so among non-smokers. Population studies relying on spirometry show a trend toward higher proportion of persons with COPD who never smoked. In Switzerland, a third of subjects with airflow obstruction have never smoked. Subjects with asthma, bronchial hyperreactivity are more at risk. Exposure to passive smoking, indoor air pollution or biological dusts may cause COPD. This review discusses COPD prevalence in never smokers and details associated risk factors.
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