Pulmonary function changes among cigarette smokers in Dhaka city & Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: In recent years, the pattern of tobacco use has changed a lot, especially among young adults in Bangladesh, mainly in Dhaka City. Many people assume that e-cigarettes are healthier alternative to traditional smoking so, they choose to consume it. Investigation of pulmonary profiles of our body by regular e-cigarettes usage is crucial. Objective: To assess the impact of e-cigarette vaping on pulmonary parameters in healthy young adults of Dhaka city. Materials and Method: A total of 180 subjects, including 60 e-cigarette smokers, 60 traditional cigarette smokers, and 60 healthy controls, aged 18-30 years, were opted from different public and private colleges and universities, as well as e-cigarette sales locations in Dhaka Metropolitan City, for this cross-sectional study. For a span of half a year the study was executed and recorded several parameters, including respiratory parameters of oxygen saturation, Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1^st second (FEV1), and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC). The Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Ad-Din Women’s Medical College, Dhaka imparted the Ethical approval. The data were coordinated, programmed and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics, such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, were used. One-way ANOVA and chi-square tests were used to compare between groups. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was regarded statistically significant. Results: In terms of lung function, e-cigarette users showed worse lung function, with reduced FEV1 and PEFR. Conclusion: The lung function test specially FEV1 and PEFR indicated significant reduction in contrast to non- smokers. However, this reduction was not as severe as traditional smokers, hence e-cigarettes still pose potential risks to respiratory health. 

J Med Coll Women Hosp.2026; 22(2): 117-124.