Ganesh Patel1 , Suman Khangarot2 , Akash Shrikhande3 , J.K. Choudhary4
BACKGROUND There are approximately 120 million smokers in rural and urban India using cigarettes, bidis, pipes, cigars, hookah and some other forms of tobacco. It is an important modifiable risk factor for respiratory and cardiac diseases. A younger group of subjects was considered not only to assess the impact of smoking on cardiorespiratory functions but also to convey the message that smoking is injurious to health. Aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of smoking on cardio-respiratory functions. METHODS This is an analytical cross-sectional study. We used non-probability criteria convenience sampling method. Smokers and non-smokers groups were registered, and the comparisons were made between the groups for the cardiorespiratory parameters in the two groups. Subjects were in the age group 20 to 55 years. Subjects with more than two years history of smoking and continued smoking five or more cigarettes per day at the time of inclusion in study formed the Smokers group. Detailed clinical history, vitals recording, ECG and Spirometry were done in all the study subjects. RESULTS In the smoker group, the Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume 1 (FEV1), the ratio of Forced Expiratory Volume 1: Forced Vital Capacity, FEF 25 – 75 % and PEFR declined as compared to non-smokers group. Duration of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked in a day were the criteria responsible for a decline in the values of all the five parameters mentioned above. CONCLUSIONS Adverse effects of smoking on lung function and cardiac function start before the onset of any symptoms. This study will be useful in creating awareness among the youth regarding the harmful effects of smoking.
