Clinical characteristics of smoking asthmatics

Sil Ha Eun, Ok Kim Hye, Ju Lee Kyoung, Joo Lee Eun, Young Hur Gyu, Hwan Jung Ki, Yong Lee Sung, Hyeong Kim Je, Yeub Lee Sang, Shin Chol, Jeong Shim Jae, Ho Kang Kyung, Hwa Yoo Se, Ho In Kwang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: The smoking prevalence in asthma patients are similar to those in the general population. Asthma and active cigarette smoking can interact to create more severe symptoms, an accelerated decline in lung function and impaired therapeutic responses. Accordingly, asthmatics with a history of smoking were examined to define the clinical characteristics and lung function of smoking asthmatics. Methods: The medical records of 142 asthmatics with a known smoking history were reviewed. The patients were divided into three groups according to their smoking history - current smokers, former smokers and non-smokers. The clinical characteristics, lung function, and annual declines of the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were compared. Results: Fifty-three of the 142 patients (37%) were current smokers, 24 were former smokers (17%) and 65 were non-smokers (45%). The patients with a hospital admission history during the previous year included 16 current smokers (30%), 4 former smokers (17%) and 7 non-smokers (11%) (p=0.02). The mean FEV1 (% predicted) was 76.8±19.8%, 71.6±21.1% and 87.9±18.7% for current smokers, former smokers and non-smokers, respectively (p< 0.001). The FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) (ratio, %) values were 63.6±12.6%, 59.3±14.9% and 72.1±11.8% in current smokers, former smokers and non-smokers, respectively (p<0.001). The corresponding mean values for the individual FEV1 slopes were not significant (p=0.33). Conclusion: Asthmatic smokers demonstrated higher hospital admission rates and lower lung function. These findings suggest that the smoking history is an important predictor of a poor clinical outcome in asthma patients. Copyright

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)506-511
Number of pages6
JournalTuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
Volume67
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009 Dec

Keywords

  • Asthma
  • Diseases progression
  • Respiratory function tests
  • Smoking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases

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