[Assessment of respiratory deterioration with spirometry]

Respiratory impairment was evaluated in 342 smokers and exsmokers patients, aged 21 to 79 years; 195 were male and 147 female, The American Thoracic Society (ATS) recommendations were followed. Pulmonary function tests: VC, FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC% were performed, using a Spirometer Spyro Analyzer, model ST-200, Fukuda Sangyo. The actual values of these tests, were compared with predictive values of Corzo, in order to evaluate the severity of respiratory impairment. In this work, respiratory impairment was found in 104 patients (30%) of 342 studied, distributed as follows: 20 (19.2%) in 20-39 years group, 35 (33.7%) in 40-59 years group and 49 (47.1%) in 60-79 years group. In relation to degree of impairment, 55 patients (52.9%) were mildly impaired, 35 (33.7%) moderately impaired and 14 (13.4%) severely impaired. It was found that 60% (21) moderately impaired patients and 64.3% (9) severely impaired were in 60-79 years group. They also had a larger history of cigarette smoking or smoked more than 30 cigarettes daily. Also a higher frequency of obstructive ventilatory defect causing respiratory impairment was found.