Environmental determinants of asthma among Khasis in Meghalaya, India

Asthma is a major obstructive airway disease, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Indigenous communities, such as the Khasis, face increased asthma risk due to environmental factors, including indoor and outdoor pollutants, allergens, and climate variability. This study investigated the environmental determinants of asthma among the Khasis in Meghalaya, focusing on the impact of these factors on asthma in this population.

A case-control study was conducted among the Khasi population, including 249 asthma cases and 252 controls, aged 10 to 75 years, in Meghalaya, India. Asthma cases were recruited from hospitals, whereas controls were drawn from the community. A validated interview schedule was used to assess indoor, outdoor, and workplace environmental factors. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS (v26) to evaluate the associations, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Lack of sunlight was found to be strongly associated with an increased risk of asthma (AOR = 43.12, p < 0.001). Early-life exposure to passive tobacco smoke (AOR = 12.81, p < 0.001) and past exposures to traditional biomass fuel (wood) (AOR = 8.72, p < 0.001) and cooking smoke (AOR = 3.76, p < 0.01) were other notable risk factors. Exposure to vehicular smoke was also associated with a three times increase in the risk of asthma (AOR = 2.97, p < 0.01).

The study showed that asthma risk in the Khasi community is significantly influenced by environmental factors, necessitating targeted public health interventions to improve housing conditions, reduce indoor air pollution, and address outdoor environmental risks.