CHRONIC EFFECT OF CIGARETTE SMOKING ON PULMONARY VENTILATION

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Abstract
A total of 658 smokers and nonsmokers was studied for evidence of expiratory obstruction by using the rapidly recorded expired vital capacity, After exclusions for incomplete questionnaires, technically unsatisfactory spirograms. abnormal chest roentgenograms, asthma, cardiac disease, exclusive cigar or pipe smoking, and interrupted smoking history, 418 subjects remained to be studied. These were subdivided into sex, smoking, and age categories. The timed vital capacities for all age groups of more than 29 years in both sexes were inferior in smokers when compared with those in nonsmokers. When measured by the midexpiratory and third-quarter flow rates, these differences were significant on statistical analysis. Increasing expiratory obstruction in smokers correlated even better with cumulative smoke exposure in pack-years than with age. The incidence of grossly abnormal spirograms was almost limited to smokers. This lends further support to the important role of tobacco smoking in the genesis of chronic pulmonary emphysema.