Burning incense (bakhour) is a common cultural practice in Saudi Arabia. However, its health risk assessment has rarely been studied. This study aims to investigate the association between exposure to incense smoke on lung function impairments and respiratory symptoms among young adults in Saudi Arabia. A community-based cross-sectional study was designed with a representative study sample (N = 125) in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Study participants, exposed group (n = 45), working in bakhour shop and matched control (n = 80), no history of occupational exposure to bakhour smoke, were recruited randomly from the population registry. Socio-demographic and respiratory symptom information were collected through a questionnaire developed based on European Community Respiratory Health Survey II (ECRHS II). Lung function measurements were conducted using a field spirometer. The overall prevalence of wheezing or whistling was 16.8%, with a higher prevalence in exposed group 35.5%. In adjusted models, exposed to incense smoke remained positively associated with respiratory symptoms: wheezing or whistling; breathlessness; chest tightness shortness of breath; woken up by an attack of coughing. Our study suggests that inhaled incense smoke in occupation or at home is a risk factor of lung function impairments among adult population in Saudi Arabia.

中文翻译：

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熏香（bakhour）烟雾暴露与成人的呼吸道症状和肺功能受损有关：沙特阿拉伯东部省的一项横断面研究

烧香（bakhour）是沙特阿拉伯的一种常见文化习俗。然而，其健康风险评估很少被研究。本研究旨在调查沙特阿拉伯年轻人接触熏香与肺功能损害和呼吸道症状之间的关联。 在沙特阿拉伯东部省设计了一项基于社区的横断面研究，具有代表性的研究样本 ( N = 125)。研究参与者、暴露组 ( n  = 45)、在 bakhour 商店工作和匹配的对照组 ( n = 80)，没有职业暴露于 bakhour 烟雾的历史，是从人口登记处随机招募的。通过基于欧洲共同体呼吸健康调查 II (ECRHS II) 开发的问卷收集社会人口统计学和呼吸道症状信息。肺功能测量使用现场肺活量计进行。喘息或吹口哨的总体流行率为 16.8%，暴露组的流行率为 35.5%。在调整后的模型中，暴露于香烟与呼吸道症状仍呈正相关：喘息或吹口哨；气喘吁吁；胸闷气短；被一阵咳嗽声惊醒。我们的研究表明，在职业或家中吸入熏香烟雾是沙特阿拉伯成年人口肺功能受损的危险因素。