Evaluation of Pulmonary Function Tests Results of Non-smoker Women Whose Husbands Smoke

Aim: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of passive smoking on pulmonary function test results by comparing pulmonary function tests of women whose husbands were smokers versus nonsmokers. Methods: A total of 179 volunteer married women aged 18-64 years, who applied to Istanbul Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital Family Medicine Outpatient Clinics between March 2019 and June 2019, participated in the study. A questionnaire and pulmonary function test were applied to the participants for whom the socio-demographic characteristics and smoking behavior of their spouses were evaluated. Results: Participants were divided into two groups, 90 women whose husbands smoked and 89 who did not smoke, and their data were compared. The mean age of the participants was 37.8± 9.8 years. 109 (60.9%) of whom were primary and secondary school graduates, and 139 (77%) of whom were housewives. 107 (59.8%) of the participants did not have any complaints; among those with complaints, cough was the most common for smokers (22.2%; n=20), and dyspnea (16.9%; n=15) was the most common for non-smokers. While there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of shortness of breath and sputum production, cough complaint was found to be statistically significantly higher in the group whose husbands were smokers (p=0.028). Although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of VC (lt), VC (% expected), FVC (% expected), FEV1 (lt), FEV1(% expected) and FEV1/FVC (%) (p>0.05), mean FVC (lt) of the patients in the smoking group was significantly lower than in the non-smoking group (p=0.030). In addition, as the number of cigarettes smoked daily by the spouse increased, a significant decrease was found in VC (lt), VC (% expected), FVC (lt) and FEV1. Conclusions: As a result of this study, coughing complaints were more common in the women whose husbands were smoker. Cough is an important symptom indicating moderate respiratory dysfunction. In the case of a prolonged cough in cases where the husband smokes, it may be recommended that the patient be evaluated with respiratory function tests.