Spirometric Lung Age Research Articles

Short-term effects of announcing spirometric lung-age on smokers’ attitudes: results from a Tunisian real-life pilot study

ABSTRACT Background To determine the effects of informing smokers of their spirometric lung-age (SLA) on smoking cessation (SC) rates and tobacco consumption. Research Design and Methods An interventional study was conducted in real-life through a humanitarian event led by the Red Crescent on 9 January 2022, in Hammam-Sousse (Sousse, Tunisia). The study comprised four steps: i) Medical questionnaire (general questionnaire, Fagerström test for cigarette dependence, SC motivation questionnaire); ii) Measurement of spirometric data; iii) SLA estimation and its announcement to participants; and iv) Self-reported evaluation of smoking behavior three months later through telephonic recall. Smokers were divided into groups (nondependent vs. dependent groups and insufficient/moderate motivation vs. high/very high motivation groups) and categories (ceased smoking, reduced consumption, maintained stable or increased consumption). Results Fifty-two smokers were included (94% were males). Three months after the event, i) 9 (17%) smokers ceased smoking, ii) 39 (75%) smokers reduced their daily smoking consumption by 12 ± 8 cigarettes/day, and iii) 4 (8%) smokers maintained stable (n = 3) or increased (n = 1) consumption. Conclusions Informing smokers of their SLA led 92% of them to cease smoking or reduce their consumption. Announcing SLA could be an effective motivational tool and an easy-to-understand concept to help smokers cease their habit.

Spirometric lung age for predicting the risk of pulmonary complications after thoracic surgeries

Annotation. Surgical interventions for diseases of the thoracic cavity are one of the most invasive surgical procedures, which are often accompanied by postoperative complications, which increase mortality, prolong hospital stays, require additional costs and correlate with poor long-term survival. However, respiratory complications remain the most common of non-surgical complications and their frequency varies from 13 to 38%. So far, several studies have shown that respiratory dysfunction is an independent risk factor for postoperative pneumonia. The aim – investigate whether it is possible to use spirometric lung age to predict the occurrence of postoperative pneumonia after thoracic surgeries. The study was performed on 192 patients with diseases of the thoracic cavity (esophagus, lungs, mediastinum), underwent surgery in the thoracoabdominal department of the Shalimov’s National Institute of Surgery and Transplantation. Statistical software EZR v.1.54 was used for statistical calculations (graphical user interface for statistical software R version 4.0.3, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). We found a very strong association between the risk of developing pulmonary complications and the age of the lungs, AUC=0.97 (95% confidence interval from 0.94 to 0.99). When choosing the optimal point for predicting the risk of pulmonary complications obtained: Lung age critical = 99.6 years. Thus, at Lung age >99.6 years, the development of postoperative pulmonary complications is predicted. At Lung age <99.6 years, the absence of postoperative pulmonary complications is predicted. When choosing this decision point, the sensitivity is 93.5% (82.1-98.6%), specificity – 95.9% (91.3-98.5%). Therefore, spirometric age of the lungs was associated with the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery for thoracic disease. This parameter deserves attention as a predictor of the probability of developing postoperative pneumonia after thoracic surgeries and can help in assessing the state of respiratory function of patients.

Spirometry feedback as a motivational tool for tobacco cessation

Abstract Background Tobacco use remains a major public health problem especially in developing countries and emerging economies. The evidence about the effect of spirometry on smoking cessation is still controversial. The aim of this study was to determine whether a spirometry and lung age announcement were a motivator for smoking cessation. Methods We conducted a randomized controlled trial among patients who attended the smoking cessation clinic (SCC) at Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital in Monastir, from June 2017 to February 2020. Participants were assigned into two groups, a control arm receiving standard program and intervention arm receiving standard program and lung age announcement. The primary outcome was the smoking cessation rates after one year of follow-up between the intervention arm and the control arm. Results A total of 500 patients were recruited and randomized with 250 patients in each group. At one-year endpoint, a total of 456 patients were reachable for assessment, 236 in control group and 220 in spirometry group. The loss rate was equal to 8.8% (54/500). Six months smoking rate was 78 (33.1%) in control group and 106 (48.0%) in intervention group (p = 0.002). One-year smoking cessation rate was higher in the intervention group than the control group (25.5% versus 16.5%), with a considerable statistical significance (p = 0.019). Spirometric lung age was significantly higher at paired comparison with chronologic age (58.81vs 46.54; p<.001); the mean difference was 10.24 years but with considerable inter-individual variability. Conclusions Smoking cessation is still a challenging procedure with a high risk of relapse. This study is an additional evidence for spirometry and lung age announcement as motivators for cessation. Key messages Spirometry increased the motivation of smoking cessation. The equipment of smoking cessation centers by spirometry may contribute on tobacco control.

Effect of smoking status on spirometric lung age in adult Chinese Men.

Smoking is one of the most unhealthy behaviours and responsible for a variety of respiratory diseases. Although spirometric lung age (SLA) is regarded as an effective way to augment the smoking quit rate in other countries, it has not been calculated in Chinese smokers. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the association of SLA with smoking status, and further explore whether smoking duration, dependence and other factors such as obesity and physical exercise affect SLA in Chinese current smokers. A total of 431 healthy men aged 20years and older took part in the study from September 2018 to August 2019. Spirometric test was measured through a portable spirometry, and smoking status including smoking duration and dependence was investigated by using a questionnaire. SLA was calculated from an established equation which is based on the inverse calculation of the forced expiratory volume in one second in the Chinese population. Lung age difference (∆LA) could be obtained by counting the difference between SLA and chronological age. Results indicated that ∆LA is remarkably higher in current smokers than that in ex-smokers and non-smokers (p<0.01). The study also revealed that smoking duration and dependence are related to ∆LA. Smokers with long smoking duration (smoked ≥10years) and high dependence (consumed ≥20 cigarettes per day) had a significantly higher ∆LA than their counterparties (p<0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that body mass index, smoking duration and cigarettes per day were independently correlated with ∆LA in the current smokers (p<0.01). The findings suggest that not only smoking or not, but smoking duration, dependence and obesity are strongly associated with SLA.

Self-Reported Smoking Status 10-Months After a Single Session Intervention Including an Education Conference About Smoking Harms and Announcement of Spirometric Lung-Age.

BackgroundStudies investigating the effects of announcing spirometric lung-age (SLA) on the smokers’ self-reported smoking status reported conflicting results.Main objectiveTo evaluate the effects of a single session intervention including an education conference about smoking harms and announcement of SLA on the participants’ self-reported smoking status.MethodologyAn interventional study was conducted in a cable factory. The intervention included four steps: PowerPoint presentation about raising smoking hazards awareness; general questionnaire; measurement of the anthropometric and spirometric data, and announcement of SLA; and evaluation of the smokers’ self-reported smoking status 10 months later (quitted smoking, decreased consumption; stable consumption, increased consumption).ResultsThirty-six smokers completed the four steps. Ten months after the intervention, 11.1% of smokers quitted smoking, 52.7% decreased their consumption by 7 ± 4 cigarettes/day, 30.5% kept a stable consumption, and 5.5% increased their consumption by 9 ± 6 cigarettes/day.ConclusionProviding an education conference combined with announcing SLA motivated 64% of smokers to quit smoking or to reduce their cigarette consumption.

Promoting the Development of Reference Equations for Spirometric Lung-Age

Promoting the Development of Reference Equations for Spirometric Lung-Age

Effect of intravenously administered reslizumab on spirometric lung age in patients with moderate-to-severe eosinophilic asthma.

Background: Spirometric lung age expresses lung function relative to chronological age. It has been effective in encouraging smoking cessation and has been used in the assessment of asthma. Reslizumab, a humanized anti-interleukin-5 monoclonal antibody, is approved as add-on therapy for adults with severe asthma and elevated blood eosinophils. Objective: To assess the effect of reslizumab versus placebo on the change in lung age over 52 weeks and the correlation between change in lung age and quality of life in moderate-to-severe asthma. Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Patients ages 12-75 years with moderate-to-severe, inadequately controlled asthma and elevated blood eosinophils received intravenous reslizumab 3.0 mg/kg or placebo every 4 weeks for 1 year. Spirometry was performed every 4 weeks, and the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) score was assessed at baseline and weeks 16, 32, and 52. Results: Mean improvement in lung-age deficit at week 52 was -8.73 years for reslizumab versus -3.80 years for placebo, a treatment difference of 5 years (p < 0.0001). A statistically significant effect was seen as early as 4 weeks. In AQLQ responders (a ≥ 0.5 increase in AQLQ score), a statistically significant inverse relationship between the change from baseline in lung age and AQLQ score at weeks 16, 32, and 52 was observed among patients treated with reslizumab only. Among lung-age responders (≥5 years' reduction), a statistically significantly greater proportion of patients on reslizumab achieved ≥0.5 increase in the AQLQ score versus placebo at all time points. Conclusion: Reslizumab reduced lung-age deficit by 5 years in patients with moderate-to-severe inadequately controlled eosinophilic asthma. Improvement in lung age correlated with improved quality of life. Lung age is a simple indication of pulmonary function and could be a valuable tool in asthma education.Clinical trials NCT01287039 and NCT01285323, <ext-link xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov">www.clinicaltrials.gov</ext-link>.

Effect of telling patients their "spirometric-lung-age" on smoking cessation in Japanese smokers.

Cigarette smoking remains a significant public health problem. However, current treatment programs have not yet succeeded in sufficiently reducing smoking rates. The study aimed to examine whether patients' recognition of "spirometric-lung-age (SLA)" estimated from spirometry data prompts smoking cessation. From December 2010 to September 2011, participating smokers were prospectively enrolled into the standardized smoking cessation program (Visits 1-5 for 12 weeks) and assigned single-blindly to either SLA assessment or control groups. The SLA group was informed of the estimated age of their lungs from spirometry analysis and given an opportunity to recognize the difference from their actual chronological age, whereas the control group was not. The primary calculation of outcome was the smoking quit rate on Visit 5, whereas the secondary end-point was the proportion of patients who remained abstinent 1 year later. One hundred and twenty-six Japanese smokers (88 males) participated and were randomly assigned to the SLA group (n=52) or the control group (n=74). The smoking quit rate on Visit 5 was similar in the SLA assessment group and control group (59.6% vs. 41.9%; P=0.0700). However, the proportion of patients who remained abstinent 1 year later was similar in both groups (78.6% vs. 69.0%; P=0.5497). Multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjusting baseline characteristics demonstrated that telling patients their SLA, the use of varenicline, and age were significantly associated with smoking quit rate on Visit 5 whereas only age was associated with remaining abstinent 1 year later. Telling patients their SLA can become a useful tool prompting smoking cessation among Japanese smokers although other factors such as pharmacotherapy and age also influence the cessation of smoking.

P223 Reslizumab improves spirometric lung age in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma

P223 Reslizumab improves spirometric lung age in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma

Spirometric Lung Age Predicts Postoperative Pneumonia After Esophagectomy.

Despite advances in treatment, postoperative pneumonia remains a major problem after esophagectomy. Lung age has been proposed as a comprehensive indicator for respiratory function. The aim of this study is to reveal the efficacy of lung age in predicting occurrence of pneumonia after esophagectomy. We assessed 342 consecutive patients who underwent subtotal esophagectomy for primary esophageal cancer from 2011 to 2014. Lung age was calculated from the preoperative spirometric test using the methods advocated by the Japanese Respiratory Society. We investigated factors predicting the occurrence of postoperative pneumonia after esophagectomy. The incidence of postoperative pneumonia was 28.9%. According to the Clavien-Dindo classification, grade II and grade III-V pneumonia were observed in 21.3 and 7.6% patients, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis for the factors predicting the occurrence of postoperative pneumonia, higher lung age (p=0.010) and lower body mass index (p=0.006) were independent factors. Patients with grade III-V pneumonia tended to have higher lung age than those with grade II pneumonia (p=0.084). In addition, lung age was significantly higher in patients who experienced pneumonia within postoperative days 7 than those who experienced pneumonia after postoperative days 7 (p=0.028). Spirometric lung age was associated with occurrence, severity, and time of onset of postoperative pneumonia after esophagectomy. This simple parameter deserves a greater consideration as a predictor of postoperative pneumonia after esophagectomy and can support both surgeons and patients in understanding the status of respiratory function.

A randomized study of contingency management and spirometric lung age for motivating smoking cessation among injection drug users.

BackgroundEven after quitting illicit drugs, tobacco abuse remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in former injection drug users. An important unmet need in this population is to have effective interventions that can be used in the context of community based care. Contingency management, where a patient receives a monetary incentive for healthy behavior choices, and incorporation of individual counseling regarding spirometric “lung age” (the age of an average healthy individual with similar spirometry) have been shown to improve cessation rates in some populations. The efficacy of these interventions on improving smoking cessation rates has not been studied among current and former injection drug users.MethodsIn a randomized, factorial design study, we recruited 100 active smokers from an ongoing cohort study of current and former injection drug users to assess the impact of contingency management and spirometric lung age on smoking cessation. The primary outcome was 6-month biologically-confirmed smoking cessation comparing contingency management, spirometric lung age or both to usual care. Secondary outcomes included differences in self-reported and biologically-confirmed cessation at interim visits, number of visits attended and quit attempts, smoking rates at interim visits, and changes in Fagerstrom score and self-efficacy.ResultsSix-month biologically-confirmed smoking cessations rates were 4% usual care, 0% lung age, 14% contingency management and 0% for combined lung age and contingency management (p = 0.13). There were no differences in secondary endpoints comparing the four interventions or when pooling the lung age groups. Comparing contingency management to non-contingency management, 6-month cessation rates were not different (7% vs. 2%; p = 0.36), but total number of visits with exhaled carbon monoxide-confirmed abstinence were higher for contingency management than non-contingency management participants (0.38 vs. 0.06; p = 0.03), and more contingency management participants showed reduction in their Fagerstrom score from baseline to follow-up (39% vs. 18%; p = 0.03).ConclusionsWhile lung age appeared ineffective, contingency management was associated with more short-term abstinence and lowered nicotine addiction. Contingency management may be a useful tool in development of effective tobacco cessation strategies among current and former injection drug users.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT01334736 (April 12, 2011).

Can pulmonary function tests be used as a tool to determine lung age?

Back ground: Diabetes mellitus, which is the chronic metabolic disorder, with increasing incidence, causes multiple organ damage, but lung as a target organ is seldom concentrated. Studies done earlier had proved that pulmonary complications occur in diabetes mellitus due to various causes. This study is focused to determine the lung age using pulmonary function tests, which indicate the quantity of morbidity of diabetes.Aim & objective: To determine the lung age in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using pulmonary function tests. Materials and methods: Around forty five type 2 diabetic patients attending Diabetology out patient department of Sree Balaji Medical College & Hospitals were recruited. Age and sex matched controls were also selected. Both the cases and controls were subjected to do pulmonary function tests. From the pulmonary function test parameters like FVC & FEV1 the lung age was calculated. The results were analyzed using paired student t test. Result: There was no statistical difference between the chronological age and estimated lung age in controls. Whereas in diabetic patients there was significant statistical increase in the estimated lung age when compared with the chronological age (p<0.001).conclusion: The estimated age of diabetic lung is well above the chronological age. We conclude that spirometric lung age can be used to estimate degree of impairment caused by diabetes in lungs. It can also be used as a tool to educate the patients to have good diabetic control.

Edad pulmonar espirométrica: antes y después del abandono del tabaco

Objectives To calculate the spirometry lung age of the smoker. To know the differences between chronological age and spirometric lung age before and at one year of quitting smoking. To find out if the tobacco consumption data influence in these differences. To analyze these data in the COPD patient subgroup. Material and methods Patients who come to our smoking cessation clinic: a spirometry is performed before and one year after they quit smoking. The baseline spirometric lung age and age at one year of smoking cessation is calculated. Statistical analysis is performed with the SPSS 11.0. Results 117 patients, 58.10% women; mean age 47.10 years, age of onset consumption 16.45 years, mean daily consumption 26.40 cigarettes. There were no significant differences between both genders for tobacco consumption levels. Mean lung age of the smoker is greater than the chronological one, both in men and women (12.58 and 1.13 years, respectively). After one year of abstinence, the lung of the men had 10.97 years more than the real age of the patient, while the lung age in the woman was 3.67 years below the chronological age. The tobacco consumption data showed a correlation with the lung age before and after cessation in both genders. Eighteen (55.6% men) of the smokers had lung function levels of COPD. These patients showed greater differences between the final and initial lung ages in both genders compared to the global series. Conclusion The lung of the smoker is “aged.” After smoking cessation, the smoker's lung was rejuvenated. Female lungs benefit more from the cessation. The tobacco load has a clear influence on the initial lung age and on benefit after cessation. The lungs of COPD patients benefit more from smoking cessation.

Effect on smoking quit rate of telling patients their lung age: the Step2quit randomised controlled trial

Objective To evaluate the impact of telling patients their estimated spirometric lung age as an incentive to quit smoking.Design Randomised controlled trial.Setting Five general practices in Hertfordshire, England.Participants 561 current...