Study of smoking Index, spirometry and severity of chronic lung disease

Introduction: It has been estimated that there are 45 million Asthma and COPD sufferers in India and this number is expected to increase to 57.2 million over the next decade according to National Centre for Macroeconomics and Health, Government of India. With this in mind present study was planned to study correlation between severity of smoking and lung diseases. Methodology: 100 patients having respiratory complaints were selected randomly from OPD and were screened for various respiratory disorders ( COPD ,Asthma ,ILD, Bronchiectasis, Post-infectious fibrosis, & Occupational lung diseases) by symptomatology, history, clinical examination, Chest X ray & spirometry.( Standard criteria were used for diagnosis of various respiratory disorders).The youngest was 20 yrs and the oldest was 65 years, mean age being 41 years. 64% were males and 36% were females. Dyspnea grading as per MMRC Scale showed 39% had grade I ,36% grade II and 11% grade III dyspnea. Results: Using Correlation co-efficient test, highly significant inverse correlation was found between MMRC scale of dyspnea and FEV1%, i.e. as the scale of dyspnea increases, the FEV1 decreases. Using Correlation co-efficient test, highly significant inverse correlation was found between Smoking Index in pack years and FEV1%., i.e. as the Smoking index increases, the FEV1 decreases.