The spirometry results of COPD patients with history of substance abuse and tobacco smoking

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common non-communicable chronic respiratory disease with huge economic and social burden leading to worldwide morbidity and mortality. Despite some clinical observations, the role of substance abuse and concomitant smoking is not yet clear. Accordingly in this study the spirometry results in COPD patients were compared between those with smoking, substance abuse, and both.In this retrospective study, all male patients with stable COPD admitted in a referral hospital were enrolled since 2011 to 2013 in a census manner. According to Gold criteria the spirometric severity were compared between those with smoking, substance abusers, and those using both.Sixty-eight patients (43.9%) were only smoker, 55 patients (35.5%) were only substance abuser, and 32 subjects (20.6%) were using both. There was significant difference between spirometric findings among three groups with higher severity among substance abusers (P<0.0001).The severity of disease among substance abuser subjects was more than participants who were smoker but not substance abuser. The abusers had more severe form of disease at the time of refer and admission.