Effect of smoking cessation in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of smoking cessation in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods One hundred and ninety three adult patients with stable COPD treated by respiratory physicians in First Hospital of Quanzhou Affiliated to Fujian Medical University were included in a 6-month srnoking cessation program.The patients were grouped as sustained quitter group,ex-quitter group,and continuing smoker group by smoking status:62 male patients were in the sustained quitter group,with average age of 60.82±5.63 year and average smoking index of 852 ± 100 year-cigarettes.Thirty six male patients were in the ex-quitter group,with average age of 60.61 ± 4.91 year and average smoking index of 812 ± 139 year-cigarettes.Ninety five male patients were in the continuing smoker group,with average age of 60.49±8.77 year and average smoking index of 833± 143 year-cigarettes.Lung function was assessed with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1).COPD health status was assessed using the COPD assessment test (CAT).Results There was no significant difference in age,body mass index,and smoking index among the 3 groups.In sustained quitter group,weight of patients increased 2.85 ± 1.27 kilograms and CAT scores decreased 6.05 ± 2.60 after the 6-month program.Matched t test showed that there was significant difference in patients' weight and CAT scores between pre-intervention and pos-intervention (t =17.763,18.351 respectively,P ＜0.01).FEV1 increased 0.04± 0.18 liters,but matched t test showed no significant difference in FEV1 between preintervention and post-intervention (t =1.900,P =0.062).In ex-quitter group and continuing smioker group,matched t test showed that there was no significant difference in patients' weight,CAT scores,and FEV1 between pre-intervention and post-intervention (P ＞0.05).Conclusions Smoking cessation was an effective treatment for stable COPD.It increased the weight of patients and improved their respiratory symptoms.But improvement of lung function was not found in our 6-month smoking cessation program. Key words: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Smoking cessation; COPD assessment test; Lung function