Relationship between Smoking and Obstructive Airways Disease

Karthika M Karthika M

doi:10.37506/ijop.v8i1.15

Abstract

Obstructive airways disease is an important cause of mortality and morbidity around the world and smoking has a significant role in the development and progression of the disease. Objective: To analyse the relationship between smoking and obstructive airways disease. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 patients with obstructive airways disease attending Respiratory Medicine outpatient services in Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal from January 2015 to September 2016. Patients aged 18-67 were included in the study after obtaining Ethical approval from the Research Ethics Board, RIMS, Imphal. Computerized Spirometer Helios 401 was the instrument used to measure lung volumes and capacities. Results and observation: The present study was conducted on 100 patients with obstructive airways disease. The lung function test values of OAD patients showed that FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC values were within normal limits. But FEF25-75%, and PEFR were lower suggesting that smaller airways were affected in obstructive airway disease. In our study we found that OAD was strongly associated with smoking status(p<0.001), smoking pack-years(p=0.000), and smoking duration(p<0.001). Conclusion: From the study results we conclude that that Obstructive airway disease was strongly associated with smoking. Smoking cessation is the best and most effective solution to this problem. Other measures such as screening with spirometric tests in high risk individuals especially the smokers in age group of 40-55 should be considered to reduce the mortality and morbidity due to Obstructive airway disease.

Highlights

Obstructive airways disease is a group of condition distinguished by increased resistance and obstruction in the air passages, especially during expiration
International Journal of Physiology, January-March 2020, Vol 8, No 1 45 disease were included in the study. 50% of the patients were diagnosed with Asthma and 50% of the patients were diagnosed with COPD
We found that 22% of COPD patients were in moderate category (FEV1/Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) < 0.70 and FEV1=0.50-0.80), 18% of patients were in severe category (FEV1/FVC < 0.70, and FEV1=0.300.50), and 14% of patients were classified as very severe (FEV1/FVC < 0.70, and FEV1 < 0.30)

Summary

Introduction

Obstructive airways disease is a group of condition distinguished by increased resistance and obstruction in the air passages, especially during expiration. The term OAD includes bronchial asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, consisting of chronic bronchitis and emphysema; bronchiectasis; cystic fibrosis and bronchiolitis.[1]. Asthma is one of the most common chronic disease and currently affects nearly 300 million people globally. The prevalence of asthma has risen in affluent countries over the past 30 years with 10-12% of adults and 15% of children affected by the disease.[2]. COPD is a characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The airflow obstruction is usually progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles. There are around 50 million patients with COPD in India and COPD is the second leading cause of death in India. Estimate suggests that COPD will rise from the sixth to the third most common cause of death worldwide by 2020.3

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