Abstract
One major type of smoking in the Middle East countries is using water pipe (WP). The prevalence of this type of smoking in the city of Mashhad and their pulmonary function tests (PFT) was studied. The prevalence of water pipe smoking was studied using standard questionnaire. Pulmonary function tests and respiratory symptoms were compared between water pipe smokers and non-smokers. Totally 673 individuals (372 male and 301 female) were interviewed. The number of water pipe smokers was 57 (8.5%) including 27 male (7.2%) and 30 female (10.0%). All PFT values in WP smokers were significantly lower and respiratory symptoms (RS) were greater than non-smokers (p<0.05 to p<0.001). There was negative correlations between PFT values and positive correlation between RS with duration amount and total smoking (p<0.05 to p<0.001). The prevalence of WP smoking in population of Mashhad city was shown for the first time which showed profound effect of WP smoke on PFT values and respiratory symptoms.
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