IMPULSE OSCILLOMETRY CAN BE USED TO EVALUATE AND DIFFERENTIATE AIRWAY
RESISTANCE AND ELASTANCE AMONG ELDERLIES SMOKERS FROM NON-SMOKERS
Abstract
Background: The respiratory system changes with age and understanding
these changes may help detect and prevent respiratory dysfunctions in
the elderly. In addition, although the influence of smoking on lung
function is well known, its influence on lung function and mechanics of
elderly are unknown. Impulse oscillometry system (IOS) is a technique
for measurements of lung mechanics, which don’t need patient effort and
a minimal collaboration, beyond to reflect more precisely airway
resistance/obstruction and lung tissue elastance than spirometric
measurements. Aims: Thus, the present study aimed to investigate whether
IOS could be or not be sensible enough to differentiate the effects of
smoking in the pulmonary response of non-smokers from smokers’
elderlies. Methods: The present study compared 30 elderlies never
smokers (70,96 ± 6,61) with 30 elderlies’ current smokers (69,96 ± 5,94
years old and 35,33 ± 24,93/packs/year tobacco load), without asthma or
any other pulmonary disease in terms of lung function and mechanics.
Results: The following differences between elderly never smokers versus
smokers for spirometric values were found (FVC p<0.02; FEV1
p<0.04; FEV1/FVC p<0.04; PEF p<0.01;
MEF25% p<0.02; MEF50% p<0.02; MEF75%
p<0.01, IVC p<0.01) and for oscilometric values
(Z5hz p<0.03; R5Hz 0.01; R20Hz p<0.04; X5Hz
p<0.02), while RFres and R5Hz-R20Hz did not present
differences (p>0.05). Conclusions: Impulse oscilometry can
detect small airway resistance/obstruction to better differentiate the
functional pulmonary alterations among never smokers from smokers’
elderlies.