Can body plethysmography demonstrate early worsening of lung function in smokers?-A comparative randomized cross-sectional study

Dr.Yogesh S. Gupta; Dr. Sneha Sathe; Dr. Urjita Zingade; Dr. Arun Kowale; Dr. Anupam S. Khare

Volume : VII, Issue : XII, December - 2018

Can body plethysmography demonstrate early worsening of lung function in smokers?-A comparative randomized cross-sectional study

Dr. Yogesh S. Gupta, Dr. Sneha Sathe, Dr. Urjita Zingade, Dr. Arun Kowale, Dr. Anupam S. Khare

Abstract :

Background:

Like any chronic disease, COPD undergoes a phase of transition from healthy to disease state. This transition often termed as early COPD, remains undetected, probably due to limitations with the diagnostic tools and symptom appearance. If the disease can be diagnosed at an early stage, the subsequent progression of the disease can be arrested. With this background, the present study was conducted.

Material and Methods:

In this comparative randomized cross–sectional study, healthy control subjects (CN), smokers without COPD diagnosis (SM) who were smoking 10 packets for more than five years and smokers with COPD (SC) (n=30 each group) were included. All the subjects were males and provided written informed consent. Spirometry and body plethysmography were performed according to published guidelines. With spirometry FEV₁, FEV₁/FVC and FEF_25–75%parameters were recorded and with body plethysmography sGaweff, sGawtot and Inspiratory Capacity (IC) were recorded. The differences in lung function were compared between the three groups using univariate analysis of variance and Tukey�s post–hoc test.

Results:

SM and CN groups did not significantly differ in FEV₁, and FEV₁/FVC and FEF_25–75%. However sGaweff, sGawtot and IC were significantly lower in SM group compared to CN. All the parameters were significantly lower in SC group compared to CN and SM groups.

Conclusion:

sGaw and IC measured using body plethysmography can demonstrate early worsening of lung function in smokers without COPD diagnosis (early COPD).