A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS IN SMOKERS AND NON-SMOKERS IN RURAL MAHARASHTRA

Background: In India smoking is a common ha bit prevalent in both urban and rural areas. Cigarette and bidi smoking has extensive effrcts on respiratoryfunction and is clearly implicated in the etiology ofa number of respiratory diseases. Objectives: 1. To study andcompare the pulmonaryfunction tests among smokers and non-smokers in a rural area. 2. To study the role ofpossible associatedfactors and relation of type, quantity and duration ofsmoking on the pulmonary function tests. Setting: Pravara Rural Hospital, Loni, District Ahmednagar Mfaharashtra. Study design : Cross sectional study. Materials & Methods: The pulmonaiy function tests were assessed on computerized spirometer in 400 male subjects comprising of 200 smokers and200 non smokers andresults were compared. Statistical analysis: SPSS Statistical Software. Results & Conclusion : Almost all the pulmonary function parameters were significantly reduced in smokers and obstructive pulmonary impairment was commonest. Thus by spirometly a spectrum of lung disorders may be detected at an early stage andsubsequent morbidity can be minimized.