LAUSR

Background: Smoking cessation is the most efficient treatment to stop COPD progression. The educational and motivational role of the “lung age” concept, of the spirometry testing and of biochemical validation of tobacco exposure in COPD patients deserves attention for driving intention to quit. Aim: To assess effects of continuing versus stopping smoking on exhaled carbon monoxide (CO), on “lung age” and on lung function in COPD patients and to determine correlations between these parameters. Material and methods: 61 hospitalized smokers and former smokers with COPD were evaluated for demographics, smoking characteristics, COPD status (lung function, mMRC dyspnea, COPD assessment test- CAT), exhaled CO and “lung age”, in a prospective study, with statistic SPSS Inc pack analysis. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between FEV1/FVC ratio in smokers (n=30) vs. ex- smokers (n=31) of 0.54 vs. 0.62 (p=0.02), but no statistic difference in FEV1 or in FVC alone. Significant statistic differences were found in exhaled CO concentrations of smokers (9.73 ppm) compared to ex-smokers (0.58 ppm) (p≤ 0.001). Exhaled CO was statistically correlated with FEV1/FVC ratio (p= 0.05). Mean “lung age” was 118.3 years in smokers and 119.58 years in ex- smokers. Lung age was statistically significant correlated with FVC % (p=0.03), with FEV1% (p Conclusions: Exhaled CO and “lung age” assessments, used together with lung function evaluation add value to proving impact of smoking exposure on COPD patients, in clinical settings.