Poor Air Quality, Dust Storm Exposure, and Chronic Respiratory Disease (COPD and Asthma) Among Rural Adults in Banaskantha District, Gujarat, India: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Study

Background Chronic respiratory diseases are increasingly recognized as a major contributor to morbidity in low-resource rural settings. Semi-arid regions of western India experience recurrent dust storms, prolonged poor ambient air quality, and high outdoor occupational exposure, yet large-scale community-level evidence linking these exposures to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma remains limited. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between 2019 and 2025 in Banaskantha district, Gujarat, India, under the Family Adoption Program. Adults aged 18–70 years with at least five years of residence were recruited from rural talukas with differing air quality exposure profiles. Respiratory assessment included standardized field-based spirometry. COPD- and asthma-consistent respiratory impairment were identified using spirometric patterns and clinical history. Environmental air quality exposure was classified ecologically using district air quality summaries, dust storm frequency, and regional climatological reports. Analyses were exploratory and descriptive. Results A total of 290 participants underwent respiratory assessment (Vav n = 100; Tharad n = 80; other rural talukas n = 110). Overall prevalence of COPD-consistent impairment was 21.7%, while asthma-consistent patterns were observed in 16.9%. The highest prevalence of COPD (27.0%) and asthma (22.0%) was observed in Vav, a taluka characterized by recurrent dust storms and sustained poor air quality. Mean spirometric values declined progressively across increasing exposure categories. A graded exposure–response pattern was observed at the ecological level. Conclusions Chronic respiratory disease was common among rural adults residing in areas of sustained poor air quality in Banaskantha district. Long-term exposure to dust storms and degraded ambient air may represent important contributors to COPD and asthma in climate-vulnerable rural populations. Longitudinal studies with individual exposure assessment are needed.