Tobacco Consumption and Respiratory Consequences

Abstract Tobacco is a substance used for recreational purposes that is frequently included as a risk factor with multiple implications in the pathophysiology of the main diseases with high mortality and morbidity. Smoking is a habit with increased prevalence at the population level and the burden given by it resides in the high latency time between the first exposure and the appearance of the first symptoms. This study aimed to quantify the effects of smoking and the impact of relatively short-term withdrawal on the main parameters that are measured in any pulmonology service. Material and method. In the presented study, a group of 106 smokers was included, who applied their initiative to the STOP FUMAT program within the “Marius Nasta” Pneumology Institute Bucharest during 2022-2023. Results. To study the impact of withdrawal in the relatively short term, the group that initially consisted entirely of smokers was divided after 6 months into group I - 41 smoking patients and group II - 54 weaned patients. A main characteristic of the group as a whole is represented by the main reason for quitting smoking represented by the ticking in the questionnaire by 93.4% of the concern about the impact on the health of smoking which correlates with the increased level of diagnosed respiratory pathologies (79.2% ) and comorbidities associated with smoking 28.3%. It was also demonstrated that although there was a slight tendency towards a reduction in FEV1 in patients from the smoking group at the 6-month assessment, it was still statistically significant among weaned patients. Discussion . Tobacco use increases the risk of cardiovascular, respiratory, and neoplastic diseases, currently representing the main preventable risk factor for death. Conclusion. Smoking remains a public health problem due to the multitude of long-term effects it has on health. The current study reinforces the consequences of tobacco consumption on patients and at the same time highlights the positive effects of withdrawal on the evolution of the case, which represents an additional argument for the repeated support and recommendation from the medical staff to go to STOP FUMAT centers.