Smokers with airway obstruction are more likely to quit smoking.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), usually caused by tobacco smoking, is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Smoking cessation at an early stage of the disease usually stops further progression. A study was undertaken to determine if diagnosis of airway obstruction was associated with subsequent success in smoking cessation, as advised by a physician. METHODS: 4494 current smokers (57.4% men) with a history of at least 10 pack-years of smoking were recruited from 100 000 subjects screened by spirometric testing for signs of airway obstruction. At the time of screening all received simple smoking cessation advice. 1177 (26.2%) subjects had airway obstruction and were told that they had COPD and that smoking cessation would halt rapid progression of their lung disease. No pharmacological treatment was proposed. After 1 year all subjects were invited for a follow up visit. Smoking status was assessed by history and validated by exhaled carbon monoxide level. RESULTS: Nearly 70% attended a follow up visit (n = 3077): 61% were men, mean (SD) age was 52 (10) years, mean (SD) tobacco exposure 30 (17) pack-years, and 33.3% had airway obstruction during the baseline examination. The validated smoking cessation rate in those with airway obstruction was 16.3% compared with 12.0% in those with normal spirometric parameters (p = 0.0003). After correction for age, sex, nicotine dependence, number of cigarettes smoked daily, and lung function, success in smoking cessation was predicted by lower lung function, lower nicotine dependence, and lower tobacco exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Simple smoking cessation advice combined with spirometric testing resulted in good 1 year cessation rates, especially in subjects with airway obstruction.

[Effects of spirometric screening in the community on smoking cessation]. / Wplyw wczesnego srodowiskowego wykrywania POCHP na ograniczenie nalogu palenia tytoniu.

UNLABELLED: In the years 1998-2000 in the Centre of COPD and Respiratory Failure in Bydgoszcz a group of tobacco smokers at risk of COPD (over 40 years of age, with smoking history of more than 10 packyears) were studied. Every patient filled-in a simple questionnaire on clinical signs of COPD and tobacco habit, had a spirometry performed according to ATS standards and received a short antitobacco counseling together with a booklet on how to quit smoking. Out of 1072 patients studied in 1998, airway obstruction was found in 200. Eighty seven of these were current smokers (studied group-S). Another 90 current smokers with normal spirometry served as a control group-C. Both groups of smokers were invited in 1999 and 2000 to perform spirometry. Changes in smoking habit were recorded at each yearly visit. After one year 13 patients (15%) from the S group and 4 (4.5%) from the C group permanently stopped smoking. In 2000 24 patients (28%) in S group and 13 (14.7%) in C group permanently quit smoking. CONCLUSION: Spirometric screening in smokers at risk of COPD together with a minimal antismoking intervention seems to be a promising method of smoking cessation.

[A test for early detection of COPD]. / Próba wczesnego srodowiskowego wykrywania POChP.

Free spirometry was offered to inhibitants of Bydgoszcz who presented with chronic cough. 1072 subjects were investigated, 638 males and 433 females, mean age 54 years. Eighty percent were smokers or exsmokers. In 78.6% subjects spirometry was normal. 200 persons (18.7%) had spirometric signs of airway obstruction, 19.5% mild, 51.5% moderate and 29% severe. Mass spirometry of smokers with chronic cough is a good screenings method for detection of COPD.

[Early detection of COPD by high risk population spirometric screening]. / Wczesne wykrywanie POChP badaniem spirometrycznym grup wysokiego ryzyka.

UNLABELLED: COPD is the most frequent chronic lung disease in Poland. The disease is however under-diagnosed, especially at the early stages. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of spirometric screening for COPD in middle aged smokers. Informations on causes and symptoms of COPD were disseminated in mass media in 14 large cities. Subject aged over 39 and with smoking history of > 10 packyears were invited for a free spirometry in local chest clinic. However, everyone attending had the spirometry performed. Spirometry was performed according to ATS recommendations. Airway obstruction (AO) was diagnosed when FEV1/FVC < 85% of N and categorised as mild (FEV1 > 70% of N), moderate (FEV1 50-69% of N) or severe (FEV1 < 50% of N). Spirometry was accompanied by an antismoking advice. RESULTS: 12.781 subjects were screened (mean age 52 +/- 12 years, 57% males). In 8.269 subjects who complied with inclusion criteria AO was diagnosed in 29.8% (mild in 10.9%, moderate in 12% and severe in 6.9%). In smokers < 40 years of age and a history of < 10 packyears AO was found in 8.8% (mild in 6.0%, moderate in 1.8% and severe in 1.0%). CONCLUSION: Mass spirometry is an effective and easy method for early detection of COPD.

[Evaluation of prognostic factors and progress of disease in patients with COPD treated with long-term oxygen]. / Ocena czynników rokowniczych i postepu choroby u chorych na POChP leczonych przewlekle tlenem.

Long-term sequential evolution of pulmonary function, blood gas, body mass index (BMI) and oxygen breathing time was observed in 266 COPD patients with advanced airway obstruction (FEV1 = 0.80 L), and severe respiratory failure (PaO2 = 52 mmHg, PaCO2 = 49 mmHg) undergoing LTOT. There were significant differences between survivors and non-survivors at entry and during the treatment. Patients dying during LTOT had at entry lower BMI and more advanced airway limitation than survivors. They did not differ in blood gas values. During the follow-up (between 1-4 years) different trends in evolution of studied variables were observed in survivors (over 4 years on LTOT) and patients dying during LTOT (up to 4 years). Long term stabilization of spirometric and blood gas values as well as in mean oxygen breathing time (14 hours) were observed in survivors. In non-survivors a significant progression in airway limitation and respiratory failure coupled with better compliance with LTOT (oxygen use increased from 15 to 17 hours/ day) was observed especially in the last year before death. In survivors BMI increased significantly during the treatment, whereas in non-survivors no change was observed.