Study of FVC,FEV1 & FEV1/FVC% in adult male smokers

Abstract

Background: Smoking is most common in East Asia, where two thirds of all adult male smoke tobacco; cigarette smoking is by far the most common. Smoking is the primary cause of chronic obstructive lung disease, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory symptoms. Many studies have shown a significant change of FVC,FEV₁ &FEV₁/FVC% in adult smokers. Objective: To assess the change of FVC,FEV₁ & FEV₁/FVC% in adult male smokers. Method: This cross-sectional comparative study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka and National institute of Diseases of Chest and Hospital, Dhaka during the period of 1^st July, 2007 to 30^th June, 2008. For this purpose, 160 adult male subjects ranging from 18 to 52 years were selected. The subjects were divided into two groups - A and B. Group A consisted of 40 apparently healthy adult male non-smokers. Group B consisted of 120 apparently healthy adult male smokers. The experimental group was again subdivided into group B₁ consisting of 40 smokers consuming 2-10 cigarettes/day for more than 5 years, group B₂ consisting of 40 smokers consuming 11-20 cigarettes/ day for more than 5 years and group B₃ consisting of 40 smokers consuming >20 cigarettes/day for more than 5 years. Analysis of data was done with the help of computer by SPSS 12.0 programmer and significant tests were done by unpaired students t test. Results: There were no statistically significant differences of FVC,FEV₁ in group A vs. group B₁, group B₂ vs. group B₃. The mean FVC,FEV₁ were significantly lower (<0.05) in group A vs. group B, group A vs. group B₂, group A vs. group B₃, group B₁ vs. group B₂ & group B₁ vs. group B₃. There were no statistical significant differences of FEV₁/ FVC% among different groups. Conclusion: From the statistical analysis of the results obtained in the present study and their comparison with those of published reports, it may be concluded that smoking causes significant change of FVC,FEV₁ among the smokers and no significant change of FEV₁/FVC% who consumed more than 10 cigarettes per day for more than five years.

Bangladesh J Medicine Jul 2015; 26 (2) : 61-66