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Early impact of smoking on lung function, health, and well‐being in adolescents
Author(s) -
Rosewich Martin,
Schulze Johannes,
Eickmeier Olaf,
Adler Susanne,
Rose Markus A.,
Schubert Ralf,
Zielen Stefan
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.21602
Subject(s) - medicine , exhaled nitric oxide , lung function , lung , cigarette smoking , lung disease , pulmonary function testing , respiratory disease , respiratory system , gastroenterology , pediatrics
Background Smoking is the single most important risk factor for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and more than 80% of adult smokers started smoking before the age of 20. The aim of our study was to evaluate the early impact of smoking on lung function, health, and well‐being in adolescents. Methods Twenty‐four non‐smokers (10 male, 14 female, mean age 17.6 years) and 24 smokers (mean of 3.5 pack‐years; 15 male, 9 female, mean age 17.8 years) were compared in terms of lung function, bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR), levels of exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO), exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), and blood counts. A questionnaire containing items from the ISAAC study was used to detect differences in health and well‐being. Results There were no significant differences in lung function values between non‐smokers and smokers (VC 95% vs. 103%, FEV 1 106% vs. 116%, FEV 1 %/VC MAX 94.6% vs. 95.2%), whereas BHR significantly differed ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, significant differences were found for eCO, eNO, Hb, leukocytes, and neutrophils. Health and well‐being in terms of sleep and physical activity were significantly worse in smokers. Conclusion Our results suggest an early impact of smoking on health after as few as 3.5 pack‐years. Early signs of smoking are an increase in BHR, changes in blood count and a decrease of eNO even before changes in lung function become apparent. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2012; 47:692–699. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.