No abstract

3 levels (cranial, middle and caudal) with grade 1 representing 1-5% emphysema, 2 = 6-25% emphysema, 3 = 26-50%, 4 = 51-75% and 5 >75% emphysema. Mean age at presentation was 40.7 (SD 5.4) years with all subjects aged 50 years or younger and 18/41 (44%) were younger than 40 years. Mean pack years cigarette smoking was 27 (19) and subjects had smoked heroin for 14.8 (6.6) years. Mean pre-bronchodilator FEV1 was 0.99 (0.52) L; 29.9 (17.6)%predicted and FEV1/FVC was 0.36 (0.13). Nine subjects had moderate (GOLD stage II), 7 severe (GOLD stage III) and 25 had very severe (GOLD stage IV) COPD. DLco was 41 (23)%predicted in the 9 subjects and alpha-1-antitrypsin level was normal in the 20 subjects who had it measured. Twenty nine CT scans were high resolution and suitable for detailed analysis. 28/29 (97%) subjects had at least grade 1 upper lobe emphysema and mean upper lobe emphysema extent (average of the 2 upper lobe scores) was 3.0 (1.4) with 15/29 (52%) subjects having grade 3 emphysema or worse. Overall emphysema extent (average of all 6 scores) was 2.5 (1.1). Moderate bronchiectasis was seen on only 3 scans and no subject had severe bronchiectasis. The other 12 CT scans could not be precisely graded but all had been reported as showing emphysema (2 mild, 2 moderate, 1 moderate to severe and 7 severe). Heroin smoking is associated with very early onset severe COPD with predominant emphysema. This is an important public health message needing dissemination to heroin smokers, drug service workers and healthcare professionals. Introduction In England it is estimated that between the ages of 15-64, 2.2% use cocaine, 6.8% use cannabis and 0.8% use opiates on a regular basis 1 . Illicit drug use such as crack cocaine smoking, heroin smoking and intravenous heroin also contribute to a range of respiratory conditions. A significant proportion of drug users also smoke tobacco. For a wide range of social, psychological and economic reasons, respiratory conditions within this population may often go undiagnosed for many years. Often their disease can progress to become severe before any medical input is sought. Aim: To ascertain a detailed tobacco and nontobacco smoking history and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, prior diagnostic investigations and diagnoses amongst clients in the criminal justice system attending an inner city drug treatment clinic run by Addaction. Methods Questionnaires were administered by Addaction staff and junior doctors from the respiratory department as part of a service evaluation. In order to ascertain whether their symptoms were likely to represent underlying COPD, a validated questionnaire was used 5 . The definitive diagnostic test for COPD is spirometryhowever in this particular group of people this is difficult to obtain due to frequently chaotic lifestyles. Results A total of 62 clients completed questionnaires. 44 (71%) smoked cigarettes, 39 (63%) tobacco (mean pack years (SD) combined cigarettes/tobacco 23.5 (25)), 40 (65%) marijuana, 54 (87%) crack and 57 (92%) heroin. 26 clien...

No abstract