airway obstruction in college going smokers

This study aims to assess the prevalence of airway flow obstruction among collegiate smokers. with the null hypothesis there is no significant association between obstructive pulmonary disease and young collegiates. With alternate hypothesis there is a significant association between obstructive pulmonary disease and young collegiates.The Nicotine exposure leads to obstruction and destruction of airways, diagnosed as COPD in later stages. The sample size for this study was estimated by the formula Z α 2P (1-P)/d2 (where Z α is 1.96, P is 10.1%, and d is 0.05, N═139). 550 collegiate smokers who were asymptomatic were taken participated. All participants were recruited on the basis of assessing FEV1/FEV6, measured by vitalograph; who diagnosed obstruction in screening test were underwent Gold Standard spirometry to diagnose airflow limitation. The mean age of participants was 22.71 ± 3.21. Out of 550, 53 have a FEV1/FEV6 ratio less than 70%, while 12 have a FEV1/FVC ratio less than 70%. It is therefore prudent to conclude that asymptomatic young college smokers experience obstruction unknowingly. These findings imply that the obstruction of the airway as a result of smoking can be attributed to the age bracket and can be discovered in its earliest stages, delaying the later onset of COPD and improving quality of life.

本研究旨在评估大学生吸烟者的气道气流阻塞患病率，研究零假设为：阻塞性肺疾病与青年大学生之间无显著关联；备择假设为：二者之间存在显著关联。尼古丁暴露可引发气道阻塞与气道破坏，后期将确诊为慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）。本研究的样本量通过公式Zα²P(1-P)/d²估算（其中Zα为1.96，P为10.1%，d为0.05，最终N=139）。共招募550名无症状大学生吸烟者参与研究，所有受试者均基于Vitalograph肺量仪检测的第一秒用力呼气容积/6秒用力呼气容积（FEV1/FEV6）结果进行招募；初筛试验中确诊存在气道阻塞的受试者，将接受金标准肺量测定法（Gold Standard spirometry）以确诊气流受限情况。受试者的平均年龄为22.71±3.21岁，550名受试者中，53名的FEV1/FEV6比值低于70%，12名的第一秒用力呼气容积/用力肺活量（FEV1/FVC）比值低于70%。因此可合理推断，无症状的青年大学生吸烟者会在不知不觉中出现气道阻塞。本研究结果提示，吸烟所致的气道阻塞可出现在该年龄群体中，且可在早期阶段被检出，从而延缓慢性阻塞性肺疾病的后期发作，提升生活质量。