Relationship between Smoking and Obstructive Airways Disease

Obstructive airways disease is an important cause of mortality and morbidity around the world and smoking has a significant role in the development and progression of the disease. Objective: To analyse the relationship between smoking and obstructive airways disease. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 patients with obstructive airways disease attending Respiratory Medicine outpatient services in Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal from January 2015 to September 2016. Patients aged 18-67 were included in the study after obtaining Ethical approval from the Research Ethics Board, RIMS, Imphal. Computerized Spirometer Helios 401 was the instrument used to measure lung volumes and capacities. Results and observation: The present study was conducted on 100 patients with obstructive airways disease. The lung function test values of OAD patients showed that FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC values were within normal limits. But FEF_25-75%, and PEFR were lower suggesting that smaller airways were affected in obstructive airway disease. In our study we found that OAD was strongly associated with smoking status(p<0.001), smoking pack-years(p=0.000), and smoking duration(p<0.001). Conclusion: From the study results we conclude that that Obstructive airway disease was strongly associated with smoking. Smoking cessation is the best and most effective solution to this problem. Other measures such as screening with spirometric tests in high risk individuals especially the smokers in age group of 40-55 should be considered to reduce the mortality and morbidity due to Obstructive airway disease.