155120 Effects of active smoking and secondhand smoke exposure on lung function of adolescents in Juárez, Mexico

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Yelena Bird, MD, MPH , Department of Health Sciences, MSC 3HLS, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
John Moraros, MD, PhD, MPH, CHES , Department of Health Sciences, MSC 3HLS, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
Hugo Staines-Orozco, MD , Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Dean of Medicine, Juarez, Mexico
Kiran Sapkota, MS , Department of Health Science, MSC 3HLS, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
Surasri Prapasiri, BS , College of Health and Social Services, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
Sasha King, BA , Department of Health Sciences, MSC 3HLS, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
Background: Active and second hand smoke (SHS) exposure can have significant effects on the lung function of adolescents with reductions in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and forced mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF25-75%) of between 5 and 10%.

Methods: A cohort study was undertaken on a random sample of three hundred, eighth grade students, attending middle school in Juárez, Mexico. The study cohort was divided into three equal groups, categorized as either smokers, exposed to SHS, or nonsmokers not exposed to SHS, and were assessed with respect to their lung functions (FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75% ).

Results: When comparing the FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75% values of the smoking group, they were found to be significantly lower than the values recorded in both the SHS exposed group as well as the nonsmokers not exposed to SHS group (P = 0.0040, 0.0100 and 0.0000, respectively). Additionally, the decrease in FEF25-75% was significantly correlated inversely with the number of cigarettes students smoked per day (P = 0.0261). A comparison of the group of students exposed to SHS revealed significantly lower values than the group who were nonsmokers and not-exposed to SHS (P = 0.0180, 0.0320 and 0.0050, respectively).

Conclusions: It has been reported that nearly one in four adolescents actively smoke and three in four are exposed to SHS in Mexico. Therefore, public health initiatives that aim to prevent initiation and assist in the reduction of SHS exposure of adolescents need to be employed as early as middle school.

Learning Objectives:
•Explain and understand the effects of active smoking on the lung function of adolescents •Explain the effects of secondhand smoke exposure on the lung function of adolescents

Keywords: Tobacco, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Youth Tobacco Issues
See more of: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs