The pulmonary damage caused by smoking: A longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: Smoking for a long period is known to cause several harms to the human body, chiefly associated with serious pulmonary damage. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference in the pulmonary damage between current smokers and ex-smokers, through measuring the bronchial parameters and the extent of emphysema, in order to further illustrate the harm of smoking and the need to stop smoking. METHODS: Using the FACT-Digital lung TM software quantitatively analysis of CT images, including the WT, WA%, LD, LV, PD, and %LAA-950 was performed. The percentage of low attenuation areas less than -950 Hounsfield units (%LAA-950) was defined as the extent of emphysema. The longitudinal data in the two consecutive years of these current smoker group and ex-smoker group were compared by paired t-test. RESULTS: The LV, %LAA-950, WT and WA% of current smokers increased more rapidly each year than that of ex-smokers. The PD and LD of current smokers declined more rapidly each year than that of ex-smokers. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that pulmonary damage caused by smoking related to the smoking status, can be measured. Smoking cessation has a positive role in alleviating the progress of pulmonary damage.