Author/Authors :
Trakas, Nikolaos Department of Biochemistry - Sismanogleio Hospital, Athens, Greece , Epameinondas Georgakopoulou, Vasiliki Pulmonology Department - Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece , Melemeni, Despoina Pulmonology Department - Sismanogleio Hospital, Athens, Greece , Damaskos, Christos Department of Propedeutic Surgery - Laiko General Hospital - Medical School - National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece , Mantzouranis, Konstantinos Pulmonology Department - Sismanogleio Hospital, Athens, Greece , Garmpis, Nikolaos Department of Propedeutic Surgery - Laiko General Hospital - Medical School - National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece , Gkoufa, Aikaterini First Department of Internal Medicine - Laiko General Hospital - Medical School - National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece , Papalexis, Petros First Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine - Laiko General Hospital - Medical School - National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece , Chlapoutakis, Serafeim Department of Thoracic Surgery - Agios Savvas Hospital, Athens, Greece , Sklapani, Pagona Department of Cytology - Mitera Hospital, Athens, Greece , Mermigkis, Dimitrios Pulmonology Department - Sismanogleio Hospital, Athens, Greece , Lekkakou, Agathi Pulmonology Department - Sismanogleio Hospital, Athens, Greece
Abstract :
Background: Cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of several diseases such as
malignancies, pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. Smoking cessation is now supported by both
behavioral counseling and medical pharmacotherapy and is the only effective approach for slowing down an
accelerated decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). Our study aims to examine changes in
forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) after smoking cessation for smokers attending our smoking
cessation clinic their correlation to smokers’ demographic characteristics.
Methods: 114 smokers (48 males and 66 females), with a mean age of 48.36±10.49 years, were enrolled.
They were classified in 4 groups, according to their age; <40 years (Group Α), 41-50 years (Group Β), 51-60
years (Group C), >60 years (Group D) and underwent Spirometry on the 1st day of visit, one month (2nd
visit) and, 3 months later (3rd visit).
Findings: Statistically significant increase in FEV1 values at the 2nd and 3rd visit compared to the 1st visit was
observed in smokers who quit smoking in Group Α, B and C (p<0.05). In addition, a statistically significant
decrease in FEV1 values at the 2nd and 3rd visit compared to the 1st visit was noticed in smokers who
continued smoking in Group B, C and D (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Smoking cessation achieved through smoking cessation support led to the improvement of
FEV1 values within 3 months. The greatest benefit was observed in smokers under the age of 60.
