Smoking habits and its association with respiratory symptoms and lung function among workers at department of city services in Majlis Perbandaran Kulim Kedah / Willman Mihon

This cross-sectional study was to evaluate the smoking habits and its association with respiratory symptoms and lung function among Malay males grass cutter (90 = n) aged of 27 to 53 years old at Department of City services in Majlis Perbandaran Kulim Kedah. All subjects were on voluntary basis and fulfilled the inclusion criteria completed a questionnaire which was adapted from American Thoracic Society Division of Lung Diseases 1978 and the Chest Graph Spirometer Model HI-101 was used to carry out a lung function test. Chi - square analysis evaluated the significant differences of respiratory symptoms between non smokers and smokers and correlation analyses evaluated the association between lung functions measurement and duration of smoking as well as to the number of cigarettes has smoked per day among smokers. An independent group T-test evaluated the significant difference of lung function measurements between non smokers and smokers. This study indicated that cough, phlegm and breathlessness were significant differences (p < 0.05) between non smokers and smokers. FVC % predicted, FEV 1 % predicted, FEV 1 / FVC % predicted and FEF 25 _ 1s % predicted are associated with duration of smoking and the numbers of cigarettes have smoked per day among smokers (p < 0.05). However, FEF 25 _75 % predicted was related to the duration of smoking and FEV 1 % and FEV 1 / FVC % predicted were related to numbers of cigarettes have smoked per day after controlling for confounding factors. The decreased of FEF 25 _ 75 % predicted, FEV1 % predicted and FEV1 / FVC % predicted indicate a presence of airway obstruction of smokers' lung. There was significant difference in all the lung functions measurement between non smokers and smokers groups due to their old age, long smoking duration and high smoking frequency. It is concluded that is advisable for smokers to quit smoking as smoking cessation will prevent further deterioration in lung functions.