Abstract
Background Waterpipe smoking in young individuals is increasing with limited studies addressing its respiratory health effects. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of waterpipe smoking on young adults' lung functions. Spirometric parameters were compared between waterpipe smokers and nonsmokers. Methods A comparative cross-sectional study of university students, including males and females, was conducted. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to record students' characteristics. The spirometry test was performed to assess students' lung functions; we recorded the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC (FEF25–75%). Results A total of 300 apparently healthy students (150 waterpipe smokers and 150 nonsmokers) were included in the study. Waterpipe smokers showed significantly lower values in FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, PEF, and FEF25–75% compared to the nonsmoker group (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). The subgroup analysis on female students (50 WP smokers and 50 nonsmokers) showed a significant decrease in FEV1/FVC ratio, PEF, and FEF25–75% parameters (P < 0.001). Conclusion Waterpipe smoking is associated with reduced spirometric parameters in healthy young adults with relatively limited smoking years.
Highlights
Waterpipe smoking (WPS) is an old tobacco smoking method dating back centuries
We considered the expected mean of FEF 25–75% to be 99 ± 20 in the WP smoker group and 106 ± 24 for the nonsmoker group. ese values were considered based on the results of similar studies [9, 10]
No significant difference was reported between the two groups (P value >0.05), except for the physical activity, which was significantly lower in the WP smoker group in general and among males (P value
Summary
Waterpipe smoking (WPS) is an old tobacco smoking method dating back centuries. In the last two decades, there has been a global increase in the prevalence of WPS, among the youth [1, 2]. Is widespread misconception is attributed to the way smoke moves through water in the waterpipe (WP) device, giving a false sense of being filtered Other factors favoring this misconception are the use of flavored and aromatic tobacco and the essential part it plays in social gatherings and cafe culture [5]. Parameters are recorded as forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC (FEF25–75%) [7]. E spirometry test was performed to assess students’ lung functions; we recorded the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC (FEF25–75%). Waterpipe smoking is associated with reduced spirometric parameters in healthy young adults with relatively limited smoking years
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