Smoking duration alone provides stronger risk estimates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than pack-years.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cigarette smoking is the strongest risk factor for COPD. Smoking burden is frequently measured in pack-years, but the relative contribution of cigarettes smoked per day versus duration towards the development of structural lung disease, airflow obstruction and functional outcomes is not known.

Methods

We analysed cross-sectional data from a large multicentre cohort (COPDGene) of current and former smokers. Primary outcome was airflow obstruction (FEV₁/FVC); secondary outcomes included five additional measures of disease: FEV₁, CT emphysema, CT gas trapping, functional capacity (6 min walk distance, 6MWD) and respiratory morbidity (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire, SGRQ). Generalised linear models were estimated to compare the relative co

SUBMITTER: Bhatt SP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5903957 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature