An assessment of pulmonary functions and chest X-ray imaging in smoker and nonsmoker adults

Background: Despite the increasing evidence regarding the hazards of tobacco, its consumption continues to rise.Premature deaths and disabling illnesses, especially related to the pulmonary and cardiovascular system, caused by cigarette smoking, had now reached epidemic proportions and presented the most challenging problem to medical scientists.Tobacco smoke contains a number of substances which may exert an adverse effect on the whole body especially on the respiratory system.Spirometry is the most effective way of determining the severity of damage in lungs.Pulmonary Functions (Spirometry) and Chest X-ray imaging (Conventional and Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD)) were assessed on smoker (n=240) and nonsmoker (n=240) adult population in the Department of Physiology and Radiodiagnosis, S.M.S. Medical College and Attached Hospitals, Jaipur (Rajasthan).Significant (p<0.05)declines of pulmonary indices such as FVC (L), FEV1 (L) and FEV1/FVC (%) were observed in smoker as compared with nonsmoker.Significant improved quality and radiological findings (Emphysema, Hyperinflation, Calcification and Other Suspected Abnormalities) were observed in chest X-ray by CAD tool as compared to conventional method.Statistically significant lower values of pulmonary indices found suggesting that functioning of the lung is affected in the group of cigarette smoker than in nonsmoker group.A significant increase in the appearance of radiological findings and quality of chest X-ray in smokers by CAD tool ropes the contribution of image processing in the medical field.