[Spirometric profile of narghile smokers].

INTRODUCTION

Studies of the spirometric profile of narghile smokers are few, have some methodologic limits (ie. small sample size) and present contradictory conclusions.

OBJECTIVE

(i) To determine the percentage of smokers having an obstructive ventilatory defect (OVD) and/or a restrictive ventilatory defect (RVD) or static hyperinflation (SHI). (ii) To compare the chronological and the estimated lung ages.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

men aged 20-60 years smoking narghile (>1 narghile-year (NA). Non-inclusion criteria: cigar or cigarettes smoker and co-morbidity. Narghile consummation quantification: NA and kg of cumulated tobacco (1 NA=9.125 kg of cumulated tobacco).

DEFINITIONS

large airway OVD: FEV1/FVC<lower limit of normal (LLN). Small airway OVD: FVC>LLN and forced mid expiratory flow<LLN. RVD: total lung capacity<LLN. SHI: residual volume>upper limit of normal. Spirometric measures (Vmax 22 Series/6200 Autobox, Yorba Linda, California, USA with measurement of functional residual capacity by nitrogen washout). Measurements were made according to international recommendations.

RESULTS

110 narghile smokers were included (34+/-10Yr; 1.76+/-0.07m; 84+/-14kg). 36% of subjects had SHI; 14% had small airway OVD; 14% had RVD and 6% had large airway OVD. (ii) Estimated lung age was higher than the chronological lung age (47+/-18Yr vs 34+/-10Yr, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Narghile consumption accelerates ageing of the lung. This study provides the health authorities with valid arguments to fight this blight on society which increasingly involves children and pregnant women.