Study of airway obstruction in smokers using spirometry

Background: Screening spirometry might help identify patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at an earlier stage. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of airway obstruction in a symptomatic and asymptomatic smokers who underwent spirometry.
Aim: Aim of this study is to identify airway obstruction and its severity in smokers with the help of spirometry.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study, conducted at Dept. Of Pulmonary Medicine, Dr D.Y Patil Medical college and Hospital from February to August 2017. The study consisted of a consecutive sample of 150 symptomatic and asymptomatic smokers (≥5 pack-years) with or without a history of COPD or asthma, who completed spirometry. Findings was recorded and statistical analysis was done
Results: Among 150 patients 57.3% had a smoking history >15 years of smoking. Out of 150 smokers 60% had airway obstruction (FEV1/FVC<0.7), 9.30% had isolated small airway obstruction and 30.66% had normal study. Among symptomatic smokers 68% had airway obstruction, among asymptomatic smokers 14 % had obstruction. On comparing years of smoking with severity of obstruction, the number of smokers with smoking years>15 were high among all stages of obstruction.
Conclusions: Airway obstruction was detected in majority of smokers (69.3%). Severity of obstruction was correlating with number of years of smoking. Number of patients with smoking history of 10-15 years was high among all stages of obstruction.