Effects of Betel Nut Chewing on Lung Function of Students in the National Capital District, Papua New Guinea

The effect of betel (areca catechu) nut chewing on the function of the normal human lungs is yet to be fully established. However, it has been noted that chewing betel nut could aggravate acute attacks of asthma in asthmatic patients. A total of 77 students in the age group 19 to 25 years selected randomly in higher learning institutes in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea underwent spirometry tests. Of the 77 students, 34 (44.2%) were males and 43 (55.8%) were females. Out of the 34 male students, 24 (70.6%) were betel nut chewers and 10 (29.4%) were non chewers. Of the 43 female students, 26 (60.5%) were betel nut chewers and 17 (39.5%) were non chewers. There were no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) in the spirometry parameters between the chewers and non-chewers in both groups. However, negative correlations were observed between number of nuts chewed per day and FEV₁/FVC in female chewers and also between frequency of chewing and FEV₁ in male chewers.

Effect of smoking on lung function of students in the National Capital District, Papua New Guinea

Smoking is a proven risk factor for a reduction in lung function. The amount of damage to the respiratory tract is associated with the amount of cigarettes a person takes and the duration of smoking. This prospective observational cross-sectional study assessed the lung function of students aged 19 to 25 years in higher learning institutions in the National Capital District, Papua New Guinea. Spirometry was used to assess the lung function of 77 students consisting of 34 (44.2%) males and 43 (55.8%) females that met the inclusion criteria. Among the 34 male students, 16 (47%) were smokers and 18 (53%) were non smokers; among the 43 female students 15 (35%) were smokers and 28 (65%) were non smokers. For the male students no statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were obtained in the FEV₁, FVC, PEF and FEV₁/FVC% values of the smokers compared to non smokers. There were no statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in the spirometry parameters for the female smokers compared to non smokers. The mean FEV₁, FVC and PEF values obtained for the male students were significantly higher (p=0.001) than the corresponding mean values for the female students. However, there was no statistically significant (p<0.05) difference between the mean FEV₁/FVC% for the male and female student smokers. The mean FEV₁, FVC and PEF values for the male non smokers were significantly higher (p=0.001) than the corresponding mean values for the female non smokers. There was, however, no statistically significant (p<0.05) difference between the mean FEV₁/FVC% of the male and female students that do not smoke.

Assessment of pulmonary function in healthy students Aged 19 to 25 Years in the National Capital District, Papua New Guinea

Pulmonary function tests are among the groups of tests that can be used for assessing the physical status of healthy individuals. This prospective observational cross-sectional study assessed the pulmonary function of healthy students aged 19 to 25 years in higher learning institutions in the National Capital District, Papua New Guinea. A total of 156 students volunteered to participate in the study. Of these, 116 (74.4%) students were randomly selected and requested to complete a pretested questionnaire before assessing their pulmonary function. A computerised spirometer, SpiroUSB, run with Spida5 software was used to determine the parameters FEV₁, FVC, FEV₁/FVC, PEF and FEF25 – 75. After analysis of the 116 questionnaires and implementing the American Thoracic Society guidelines and criteria for assessing the spirometry results, the data obtained from 77 (66.4%) students were suitable for analysis. Of these 77 students, 34 (44.2%) were males and 43 (55.8%) were females. The mean FEV₁ for the male students (3.70 ± 0.43L) was significantly higher (p = 0.001, 2-tailed) than that for the female students (2.91 ± 0.39L); the mean FVC for males (4.18 ± 0.54L) was also significantly higher (p = 0.001) than that for the females (3.25 ± 0.53L). The PEF and FEF₂₅₋₇₅ also showed significantly higher (p = 0.001) results for males compared to the females. The FEV₁/FVC, however showed no statistically significant (p = 0.275) difference between the values obtained for the male and female students. Strong inverse statistically significant correlation was found between the Body Mass Index of male students in the overweight category and their FEF₂₅₋₇₅ (rho = -0.695, p = 0.004). The data indicated that gender was a significant determinant of lung function with the male students showing greater mean values for FEV₁, FVC, PEF and FEF₂₅₋₇₅, suggesting greater lung volumes compared to the female students.