Association of High Peripheral Neutrophil Count in Healthy Young Smokers With Impaired Pulmonary Function Test

Young adults in developing countries are attracted and addicted to the habit of smoking due to various reasons. The inhaled smoke from cigarette produces inflammatory reaction in the airways leading to impairment in lung function. Our present study was designed to assess the relationship between the pulmonary function parameters like forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), percentage of FEV1 and forced expiratory flow during 25-75% of expiration (FEF 25-75%) and peripheral differential leukocyte count in healthy young smokers. The study was done in 50 healthy smokers and their results compared with 50 healthy non smokers of the same age group. Pulmonary function test (PFT) was assessed using computer spirometry and the peripheral differential leukocyte count (DLC) was done using spread technique. The variables of PFT and DLC were statistically correlated using Pearson`s correlation test. Forced expiratory lung volumes like FVC, FEV1, FEF 25-75% were decreased in smokers when compared to non smokers and their blood picture showed increased neutrophil count. Pearson`s correlation test showed a negative / inverse relationship between neutrophil and lung function parameters in smokers. The results of our study suggest that the impaired lung function test in smokers is associated with high peripheral neutrophil count.