This research studied the use of early detection of lung damage in smokers and the effect of this knowledge on motivation and success of people to quit smoking.
Smoking related lung damage is called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and accounts for 26,000 deaths per year in the UK. Early damage may not give any symptoms. Not everyone is equally susceptible to damage.
Lung function declines naturally with age. These changes can be measured with a device called a spirometer. The subject blows into the machine and the total volume that can be blown out and the rate that it is expelled can be measured. The lungs of smokers may behave as if they are 'older' than normal (see below). The study aims to see if informing smokers of their 'lung age' helps motivate them to quit smoking.
Lots of research has identified medicines (patches, gum etc) that will help motivated smokers to quit, but the benefit of lung screening of smokers had not been established prior to publication of this study.
In susceptible individuals, smoking accelerates the age-related decline in lung function, but this returns to the normal rate if the patient stops smoking (Adapted from Fletcher C & Peto R. BR Med J 1977; 1: 1645-8.)
