Rapid lung function decline in smokers is a risk factor for COPD and is attenuated by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Cigarette smoking is the most important risk factor for COPD in the United States. Host factors that influence the rapid rate of FEV1 decline in smokers and how decline rate influences risk for developing COPD are unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize the rate of FEV1 decline in ever smokers, compare the risk of incident COPD between those with rapid decline and others, and determine the effect of selected drugs on rapid decline.

Methods

A total of 1,170 eligible ever smokers from the longitudinal Lovelace Smokers Cohort with repeat spirometry tests over a minimum follow-up period of 3 years (mean follow-up, 5.9 years) were examined, including 809 ever smokers without a spirometric abnormality at baseline. Longitudinal absolute decline in postbronchodi

SUBMITTER: Petersen H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3971967 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature