title: Difference in airflow obstruction between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White female smokers.
abstract: Smoking-related respiratory diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. However, the relationship between smoking and respiratory disease has not been well-studied among ethnic minorities in general and among women in particular. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the risk of airflow obstruction and to assess lung function among Hispanic and non-Hispanic White (NHW) female smokers in a New Mexico cohort. Participants completed a questionnaire detailing smoking history and underwent spirometry testing. Outcomes studied included airflow obstruction, selected lung function parameters, and chronic mucus hyper-secretion. Chi square, logistic, and linear regression techniques were utilized. Of the 1,433 eligible women participants, 248 (17.3%) were Hispanic; and 319 had airflow obstruction (22.3%). Hispanic smokers were more likely to be current smokers, and report lower pack-years of smoking, compared to NHW smokers (p < 0.05 for all analyses). Further, Hispanic smokers were at a reduced risk of airflow obstruction compared to NHW smokers, with an O.R. of 0.51, 95% C.I. 0.34, 0.78 (p = 0.002) after adjustment for age, BMI, pack-years and duration of smoking, and current smoking status. Following adjustment for covariates, Hispanic smokers also had a higher mean absolute and percent predicted post-bronchodilator FEV(1)/FVC ratio, as well as higher mean percent predicted FEV(1) (p < 0.05 for all analyses). Hispanic female smokers in this New Mexico-based cohort had lower risk of airflow obstruction and better lung function than NHW female smokers. Further, smoking history did not completely explain these associations.
authors.affiliation: Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, S.E., Albuquerque, NM, USA. asood@salud.unm.edu
authors.forename: Akshay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sood
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Stidley
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Picchi
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Celedón
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gilliland
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Crowell
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Belinsky
authors.forename: Yohannes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tesfaigzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000208:ethnology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*