Airway wall thickness on HRCT scans decreases with age and increases with smoking.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To investigate if age, gender and smoking are associated with airway wall thickness (AWT) measured by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and if higher AWT is associated with lower levels of pulmonary function in healthy current- and never-smokers with a wide age range.

Methods

HRCT scans were performed in 99 subjects (48 never- and 51 current-smokers, median age 39 years [IQR 22 - 54], 57% males). The AWT at an internal perimeter of 10 mm (AWT Pi10) was calculated as an overall measurement of AWT, based on all measurements throughout the lungs. Extensive pulmonary function testing was performed in all subjects.

Results

Higher age was associated with a lower AWT Pi10 (b = -0.003, p < 0.001). Current-smokers had a higher AWT Pi10 than never-smokers (m

SUBMITTER: Telenga ED 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5286807 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature