Rahim Golmohammadi [1] and Gholamreza Noori [2]

  Abstract

  Background and Aim: The respiratory system is one of the most important targets for infectious and common diseases. At the present time, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fifth cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide and is predicted to be the third mortality cause in the subsequent years. Smoking is a progressive risk factor in respiratory diseases. Therefore, detection of change in pulmonary volume in patients with COPD in smokers and non-smokers would be very important. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of albuterol on pulmonary volume in smoker and non-smoker patients with COPD.

  Materials and Methods: This is a semi-experimental study in which 75 patients with COPD participated during 2008-2009 in Sabzevar, Iran. The data were collected through interviews and observations. Physical examination and respiratory tests were conducted by a physician. Respiratory tests were taken before and after using albuterol by spirometry. Pulmonary volume (FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC) were measured and recorded. The data were analyzed using statistical Mann-Whitney test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation.

  Results: Out of 75 patients, 41(55%) were male and 34(47%) were female. The mean age for males was 50.1± 2.9 and for females was 49.6 ± 2.6. The mean of FVC in patients before inhalation of albuterol did not show any difference between age group of less than 60 years old or over 60 (p=0.07). However, the mean was significant after using albuterol (p=0.04). The Pearson regression test showed that there is a significantly direct relationship between age and ratio of FEV1/FVC in non-smoker patients but there was no such a relationship in smoker patients.

  Conclusion: Our results showed that in smoker patients not only did pulmonary volume decrease but also the effect of albuterol as a drug was reduced in comparison with non-smoker patients.

  [1] - Corresponding Author: Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.

  Tel: +98 915 571 2573 Fax: +98 571 4419573 E-mail: Rahimgolmohammadi@yahoo.com

  [2] - Internist, Department of Internal Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran