Pulmonary function changes in asymptomatic smokers - a community survey in Udupi, Karnataka, India

Senthil Kumar Elumalai; Arun G. Maiya; Kalyan B. Chakravarthy

doi:10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20170169

Authors

Senthil Kumar Elumalai Department of Physiotherapy, Sharda University Greater Noida Uttar Pradesh, India
Arun G. Maiya Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal - 576104, Karnataka, India
Kalyan B. Chakravarthy Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal - 576104, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20170169

Keywords:

Asymptomatic smokers, Correlation, Pulmonary function

Abstract

Background: Smoking has been labeled the most important preventable cause of a respiratory disease and its effects in a smoker are well established. A better understanding on the pulmonary function impairments in an asymptomatic smoker is the need of the hour. Objective: To study the pulmonary function changes in asymptomatic smokers and non- smokers and to establish the dose -effect relationship amongst asymptomatic smokers.

Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted in Udupi district of Karnataka, India. 140 men aged between 20 to 45 years with a BMI ranging from 18.5 to 29.9 Kg² /m was enrolled in to the study. 70 subjects were asymptomatic smokers and the other 70 were non-smokers. Outcomes measured were standard spirometric measures for pulmonary function and symptoms like breathlessness, cough and sputum using a Breathlessness Cough Sputum scale.

Results: The mean age (mean ± SD) of non-smokers and asymptomatic smokers enrolled was 34.7±5 and 33.8±5 years respectively. The mean smoking dose amongst the asymptomatic smokers was 15.74±5.5 pack years. FEV1 amongst the asymptomatic smokers showed a negative correlation with smoking dose (p<0.05) and there was a significant difference in FEV1, FVC, PEFR, MVV and FEF 25- 75 % (p<0.001) amongst the asymptomatic smokers and non-smokers.

Conclusions: Asymptomatic smokers showed low values of pulmonary function parameters compared to those in non-smokers.

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