Open AccessEvaluation of nasal mucociliary clearance using saccharin test in smokers: A prospective study
Author(s) -
Dülger Seyhan,
Akdeniz Önder,
Solmaz Fevzi,
Şengören Dikiş Özlem,
Yildiz Tekin
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the clinical respiratory journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.789
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1752-699X
pISSN - 1752-6981
DOI - 10.1111/crj.12733
Subject(s) - medicine , mucociliary clearance , saccharin , nicotine , mann–whitney u test , statistical significance , analysis of variance , prospective cohort study , anesthesia , lung
Abstract Background and aim Nasal mucociliary clearance time (NMCT) can be measured with the saccharine clearance test which is an inexpensive and easy method. The aim of the present study was to compare and evaluate NMCT using the saccharine clearance test in smokers and non‐smokers. Materials and methods Eighty‐five patients whose ages ranged from 18 to 65 years were included in the study. Fifty of the patients were smokers (Group 1) while 35 were healthy, non‐smoking volunteers (Group 2). Saccharin clearance test was used to evaluate NMCT in both groups. The results obtained were compared and the statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results NMCT was statistically significantly higher in Group 1 as compared to Group 2 ( P < .001, Mann‐Whitney U test). However, in cumulative smoking duration (pack‐year), Fagerström test values and gender categories, there was no statistically significant difference in the average NMCT values of the two groups ( P = .943 vs P = .812 respectively), P = .45). Conclusion Mucociliary activity, the primary defence mechanism of the respiratory epithelium, is significantly depressed in smokers. Our findings showed that the said depression is not associated with the number of cigarettes smoked, duration of smoking or nicotine dependence.