Smoking effect of passive on children's pulmonary function tests

ABSTRACT

Until recently, relatively few studies have focused on the health effects of passive or involuntary smokers. This study was planned to see the effects of passive smoking on pulmonary functions in children of both sexes. Pulmonary function tests of 100 children, 50 passive smokers [38 males and 12 females] and 50 non-passive smokers i.e. controls [36 males and 14 females] were performed on a computerized s-Model Vitalograph psirometer in Pakistan Medical Research Council, Research Centre, Jinnah Post-graduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Amongst male passive smokers, there was statistically significant reduction in FEV/FVC% FEF 25%-75% and PEF [P<0.001]. Also FEV/VC% and MVV were significantly low [P<0.01]. Amongst female passive smokers FEF 25-75% showed a highly significant decrease [P<0.001], whereas FEV/FVC% and PEF were low [P<0.01]. Both sexes i.e. male and female passive smokers consumed more time for forced expiratory flow 25-75% as compared to controls [P<0.001] and [P<0.01] respectively