Article Text

Download PDFPDF

Smokers with airway obstruction are more likely to quit smoking
Free
  1. M Bednarek1,
  2. D Gorecka1,
  3. J Wielgomas2,
  4. M Czajkowska-Malinowska3,
  5. J Regula4,
  6. G Mieszko-Filipczyk5,
  7. M Jasionowicz6,
  8. R Bijata-Bronisz7,
  9. M Lempicka-Jastrzebska8,
  10. M Czajkowski9,
  11. G Przybylski10,
  12. J Zielinski1
  1. 12nd Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Warsaw, Poland
  2. 2Outpatient Chest Clinic, Wloclawek, Poland
  3. 3Outpatient Chest Clinic, Bydgoszcz, Poland
  4. 4Outpatient Chest Clinic, Dzialdowo, Poland
  5. 5Outpatient Chest Clinic, Bytom, Poland
  6. 6Outpatient Chest Clinic, Lublin, Poland
  7. 7Outpatient Chest Clinic, Inowroclaw, Poland
  8. 8Outpatient Chest Clinic, Warsaw (Ochota), Poland
  9. 9Outpatient Chest Clinic, Warsaw (Saska Kepa), Poland
  10. 10Outpatient Chest Clinic, Swiecie, Poland
  1. Correspondence to:
    Professor J Zielinski
    National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 2nd Department of Respiratory Medicine, 26 Plocka Street, 01-138 Warsaw, Poland;j.zielinski{at}igichp.edu.pl

Abstract

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.

  • CO, carbon monoxide
  • COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second
  • FTND, Fagerström test for nicotine dependence
  • FVC, forced vital capacity
  • lung function testing
  • counselling
  • smoking cessation
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

Linked Articles

  • Airwaves
    Wisia Wedzicha