European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Low spirometry levels in persons who are smokers have been shown to increase smoking cessation rate, while some other studies have shown that pulmonary function testing in smokers has no effects on smoking cessation. Contradictory results of few studies on this subject inspired to investigate the effect of identifying smokers with COPD or deranged physiological findings via spirometry, and its implication to smokers on the success rate of quitting smoking in the short-term interval.
Methods: The present study was conducted in deaddiction centre at tertiary care hospital. The subjects who were smokers on whom pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed and completed at least 12 weeks of deaddiction program were included in the study.
Results: The mean age of the 443 subjects was 41.8 ± 11.8 years. 268 subjects (60.5%) were male. A total of 128 subjects (28.8%) came to the follow-up visits following the first interview. The success of smoking cessation for 12 weeks was 11.5% for all subjects and 39.8% for subjects who came to follow-up visits. Of the subjects with obstruction on PFT; 22.8% stopped smoking, whereas 8.4% of the subjects without obstruction did so (P < .001). The percentage of subjects with obstruction on PFT was significantly higher (P < .001) and the FEV₁ % (P = .005), FEV₁/FVC (P < .001), and forced expiratory flow 25–75% (P = .008) levels were significantly lower in the quitters compared with the non-quitters. Logistic regression analysis showed that age and the presence of obstruction on PFT were independent variables.
Conclusion: The chances of smoking cessation are higher in the subjects who are elderly and showing obstruction on PFT. Pulmonary function tests should be performed on all patients who concern to deaddiction centre and information should be given to them about their condition.