Abstract
Background: The most effective action for primary prevention of COPD and other smoking-related diseases is smoking cessation early enough. In secondary prevention smokers with airway obstruction were more likely to quit smoking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a public spirometry on smoking habits in terms of primary prevention.
Methods: Spirometry with its medical analysis was offered to visitors of a local public event called “Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften” (“Long night of sciences”) on 24.10.2009. The impact of results on smoking habits was evaluated in all smokers with an anonymized questionnaire afterwards.
Results: 257 people at an age of 30 (IQR 22 – 46) were examined. Out of 44 current smokers (17.1%) only two individuals showed a prebronchodilator FEV1/FVC-value <0.7. 14 smokers stated to have an increased motivation to quit smoking whereas 28 smokers declared that their motivation to quit smoking was independent of spirometry result. These smokers were significant younger (median age 28 vs. 40 years, p=0.025) without differences in spirometry results or smoking habits.
Conclusion: In an unselected population with a high amount of younger adults normal spirometry did not show a short term benefit for primary prevention of COPD or other smoking-related diseases in terms of an increased motivation to quit smoking.
- © 2011 ERS