EFFECT OF CIGARETTE-SMOKING ON THE PULMONARY-FUNCTION OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

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Abstract
The effect of personal cigarette smoking on the growth of lung function in children and adolescents was assessed in a longitudinal study of a group of 669 subjects 5-19 yr of age at initial examination. Subjects were seen annually and assessed with standard questionaires and measurements of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced expiratory flow during the middle half of the forced vital capacity (FEF25-75). Multiple regression analysis revealed that after correction for previous FEV1 or FEF25-75, age sex, height, change in height, interactions of age change in height, and sex and height, mother''s smoking, and the personal smoking by the children led to a significant decrease in the rate of growth of FEV1 (P < 0.001) and FEF25-75 (P = 0.033). On the basis of this analysis, it is estimated that, on average, children who begin to smoke at 15 yr of age and continue to smoke would achieve only 92% (95% confidence limit, 87-96%) of their expected FEV1 and 90% (95% confidence limit, 81 to 99%) of their expected FEF251-75 at 20 yr age. Relatively small amounts of cigarette use (median total consumption of 7300 cigarettes) by adolescents can lead to significant effects on the growth of lung function.

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