Assessment of Second-hand Smoke Exposure on Pulmonary Function Using IOS and DLCO and Its Association with Health-Related Quality of Life in Healthy Female College Students

Authors: Gayathri . pandurangam, Swathi . gurajala, Aya Khalid Fayyomi, Khadijah M Qandeel, Fidaa . Obaidan, Salam . Saeed, Kawther . Hassan, Zainab . Alshaikh, Mashael Mamdouh Alrayes, Shoug Yousif Al Humoud, Hussam Mohammed Seedahmed, Sally Yussef Abed

DOI: 10.18231/j.ijirm.12474.1907022066

Keywords: Pulmonary function test, College of Applied Medical Sciences, second-hand smoking, passive smoking, female, health-related quality of life.

Abstract: Background: According to the World Health Organization, Second-Hand Smoking (SHS) is causing 1.2 million deaths annually. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the SHS impact on pulmonary functions and Health- Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) among healthy, non-smoking female, and to determine whether SHS may cause harmful effects. Methodology: Initially a survey was conducted among members of College of Applied Medical Sciences in Jubail (CAMS-J) to quantify SHS exposure and establish their HRQOL. SHS exposure questionnaire was used to collect the study sample and to divide the participants into control (non-exposed) group and exposed to SHS. Additionally, to evaluate the quality of life, the HRQOL questionnaire was used, consists of five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Subsequently, Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) were performed to all participants to compare the lung function between the two groups. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to assess the relationship between SHS exposure and its effects on PFTs and HRQOL. Results: A total of 20 participants were included in the analysis: 11 participants (55%) were classified as non-exposed (control group), 9 participants (45%) exposed to SHS. The median SHS exposure duration was 0 hour, and 1 hour (interquartile range, 1-1.75)] for control, and exposed groups respectively. Among all the pulmonary function parameters, significant difference was observed between the control and exposed groups in terms of SHS exposure and FVC% (P = 0.01). No significant differences were found among the two groups in terms of HRQOL scores, including EQ-VAS (P = 0.66) and EQ-5D-5L index value (P = 0.41). A strong positive correlation was identified between SHS exposure duration and the R5–R20 parameter (P = 0.03, ρ = 0.72), indicating potential small airway involvement. However, no correlation was found between SHS exposure duration and HRQOL scores (EQ-VAS: P = 0.71; EQ-5D-5L index: P = 0.34). Conclusion: Second-hand smoke exposure may impair lung function in healthy non-smoking females, particularly affecting FVC% and Z5%, with signs of early small airway involvement. DLCO and HRQOL were not significantly impacted, but further research with a larger sample size is needed.