ABSTRACT
Aim of this study was to compare the forcedexpiratory volume in one second [FEV1] in smokervs. non smoker doctors
Material and Methods:Individuals were divided into two equal andmatched groups of fifty each. Their ages rangedbetween 27 to 57 years with an average of 18.2 packyears of smoking. Individuals with history ofpulmonary, cardiac, musculoskeletal, neurologicalor any systemic disease which could decline lungfunctions were excluded. Moderate smoking wasdefined as cigarette smoking of 10 pack years.Desktop Spirometer [Geratherm respiratory GmbH]was used in the study and GOLD criteria of COPDwas applied to detect the abnormalities
Results:Mean Age of individuals was 37.65 +/- 7.16 yearsand mean [ +/- SD] height was 174.33 +/- 7.54centimeters. FEV1 was normal in 32 [32%]subjects out of 100 [n=100], out of which 06 weresmokers and 26 were non smokers. Signs of airwayobstruction [FEV1 < 80% predicted] were found in68 [68%] subjects, among whom 44 subjects weresmokers and 24 were non-smoker. Smokers had ahistory of 10 to 41 pack years of smoking with amean of 18.2 pack years. P-value was calculatedusing Chi-square test, which turned out to be 0.00
Conclusion: The prevalence of persistent air flowobstruction is high in asymptomatic smokers. A lowFEV1 in an asymptomatic smoker indicatesindividual with high risk of developing COPD