In contrast to smokers, non-smokers exhibited substantial improvements in several respiratory parameters following rehabilitation, including forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), the FEV1/FVC ratio, maximal voluntary ventilation, and the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide. In terms of physical endurance and oxygen utilisation, non-smokers showed marked advancements in the 6-minute walk distance and peak oxygen consumption after rehabilitation compared to their smoking counterparts.
Following rehabilitation, non-smokers achieved significantly higher scores on the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, the Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale, and sleep quality assessments than smokers. It is well-established that smoking triggers chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, premature ageing, and immune dysfunction in the lungs, all of which contribute to the progressive damage to the airway epithelium, vascular endothelium, small airways, and alveoli—features characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
New findings underscore the cessation of smoking as a pivotal element in achieving optimal outcomes in pulmonary rehabilitation programmes. This cessation plays a crucial role in enhancing both physiological improvements and quality of life for patients suffering from respiratory ailments. The efficacy of respiratory rehabilitation is notably reduced in smokers with COPD, leading to lesser improvements in pulmonary function, exercise capacity, quality of life, and sleep patterns compared to non-smokers. Based on these findings, there is a compelling need for integrated smoking cessation support within pulmonary rehabilitation programmes to maximise therapeutic outcomes for patients with COPD.
More information: Mingzhen Li et al, The impact of smoking on respiratory rehabilitation efficacy and correlation analysis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a retrospective study, Journal of Thoracic Disease. DOI: 10.21037/jtd-24-1267
Journal information: Journal of Thoracic Disease Provided by National Center for Respiratory Medicine
