The effect of habitual waterpipe tobacco smoking on pulmonary function and exercise capacity in young healthy males: A pilot study

Abstract

Habitual waterpipe tobacco smoking in young seemingly healthy individuals is associated with a greater burden of respiratory symptoms and impaired exercise capacity.

Effects of Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking on the Spirometric Profile of University Students in Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Although this parameter is nonspecific and highly variable with less clinical relevance compared to other parameters (except PEF), midflows are effort independent and very sensitive for early airway and lung parenchymal disease. In other studies, the midexpiratory flow rate was found to drop significantly shortly after smoking WP [ 10 ]. This could possibly be an early predictor of small airway obstruction, and the implication of serial spirometry testing could then predict progression to full COPD [ 9 ].…”

“…Many of them perceive it as a safer method of smoking. Because young WPS users are usually asymptomatic and do not seek medical care, few studies have addressed WPS effects on respiratory health in this population [ 8 , 10 , 11 ].…”

“…We considered the expected mean of FEF 25–75% to be 99 ± 20 in the WP smoker group and 106 ± 24 for the nonsmoker group. These values were considered based on the results of similar studies [ 9 , 10 ]. We ended up with a total sample size of 300: 150 in the WP smoker group and 150 in the nonsmoker group.…”

“…Most of the previous work regarding WPS focused on the middle- and old-aged where long exposure to WPS has taken its effect [ 8 , 9 ]. Nevertheless, in-depth understanding of the effects of WPS on the youth is crucial and remains limited to a few studies [ 10 , 11 ].…”

“…Hawari et al compared the pulmonary function of 69 male WPS to 69 nonsmokers (mean age = 22.1 years). WP smokers demonstrated significantly lower values of FEV1, FVC, PEF, and TLC [ 10 ]. Another study that took place in Iran, including male and female adults (mean age = 40 ± 12.2 years), showed that all spirometric values in 58 WP smokers were lower as compared to 50 nonsmokers [ 12 ].…”