Pulmonary Symptoms in Smokers with Normal Spirometry

Some of these patients have symptoms similar to those of patients with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

A traditional criterion for diagnosing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) to forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio of <0.70 after bronchodilator use. However, many smokers whose FEV₁:FVC after bronchodilator use is ≥0.70 nevertheless exhibit chronic respiratory symptoms. In this U.S. observational study that involved about 2000 participants (age range, 40–80), researchers sought to characterize the respiratory status of smokers (current or former) with preserved pulmonary function by comparing the following five groups:

Smoker, preserved pulmonary function, asymptomatic (according to a standardized tool that assesses dyspnea, cough, and several other symptoms)
Smoker, preserved pulmonary …

Reviewing Author

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Pulmonary Symptoms in Smokers with Normal Spirometry

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Reviewing Author