Egyptian Smoking Prevention Research
Institute (ESPRI) 1, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine 2, Cairo University
Faculty of Medicine 3, Ministry of Health and Population 4, and University
of Maryland 5.
Abstract
Chronic obstructive lung
disease(COPD) is common among smokers and this study based on a community sample
compares those with COPD with smokers with no lung function dysfunction.
Methods:
A community survey
on smoking was carried out in rural Egypt.
Cigarette smokers were selected if they smoked at least 10 cigarettes daily for
5 years. Expiratory flow/volume curve was done expiratory flow/volume curve was
done for 364 cigarette smokers and 84 waterpipe smokers. Lung function results
were categorized using American Thoracic Society guidelines. Univariate and
logistic regression analysis were performed to identify significant independent
variables that were associated with COPD. Results :A total of 243 cigarette
smokers with normal lung function, 22 cigarette smokers with COPD, 56 waterpipe
smokers with normal lung function and 5 waterpipe smokers with COPD were
identified.. Symptoms, age of initiation, amount of smoking and time since last
smoked did not differ significantly between the two groups. Duration of smoking
emerged as the most significant variable associated with COPD (OR for smoking
over 20 years was 11.9 CI 1.5-96.7 p<.001) and age was not a significant
predictor of COPD.
Conclusions:
The
ration of COPD to smokers with normal lung function appeared to be the same for
cigarette and waterpipe smokers. Duration of smoking emerged as the major
significant predictor for COPD.
