Comparison assessment methods of smoking consequences use in primary care

Cigarette smoking is an independent factor influences on development of smoke related diseases (for example COPD, emphysema). The aim of the study was to check correlation between the changes in respiratory tract and use additional tests such as: a spirometric test, a chest radiogram and measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide among subjects. In the study took part 398 people: 182 active smokers, 145 ex-smokers and 71 never smokers. Average age of participants was 49.3 +/- 14.7 years, and number of years smoked cigarettes was 28 among men and 22 among women (p < 0.001). COPD has been diagnosed at 110 women (36-32.7% active smokers, 44-40% never smokers and 30-27.3% former smokers) and at 108 men (53-40.8% active smokers, 52-23.9% never smokers and 77-35.3% former smokers). Emphysema has been diagnosed at 22 women (11-50% active smokers, 3-13.6% never smokers, 8-36.4% former smokers) and at 54 men (23-42.6% active smokers, 1-1.9% never smokers, 30-55.6% former smokers). The measurement of carbon monoxide in exhaled air was noted at 122 active smokers, 2 never smokers and 31 former smokers. In comparison to the chest radiogram, the spirometric test (COPD and emphysema) with the level of CO exhaled by subjects showed strong dependence for emphysema ( = 8.655; p < 0.004; C = 0.207) and for COPD ( = 10.522; p < 0.002; C = 0.228). The same statistically significant correlation showed results among active smokers for emphysema (= 6.919; p = 0.008528; C = 0.272) and for COPD ( = 43.512; p < 0.001; C = 0.633). The research showed that there are strong dependence between gender and tobacco smoking, and also correlation between respiratory tests used in this paper and changes which appeared as results of tobacco smoking.