title: Lung Transfer Factor in Middle Aged Asymptomatic Male Smokers of a City from West India: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Smoking is an increasingly popular indulgence in India. Assessment by routine spirometry falls short of direct functional parameter like Diffusion Lung Capacity (DLC), also known as lung transfer factor (LTF).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure LTF amongst middle aged male smokers and to study various correlates for it.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total of 45 asymptomatic male current smokers were enrolled for this cross-sectional study conducted at pulmonary function testing lab of Physiology Department of our college. Smoking history was evaluated and smoking index was defined by product of number smoked per day and years smoked. We used instrument Ultima PFX of Medgraphic Company. After pre syringe calibration LTF was measured by Methane mixture using protocols of ATS. Parameters measured were Dlco-uncorrected, corrected and normalized to VA (alveolar volume). Results were compared for statistical significance and significance was set as p <0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In case group of 45(25 bidi and 20 cigarette smokers) mean age was 30 years, mean duration was 8 years, mean smoking index was 60. We found small insignificant decline in actual LTF values than predicted which was not significantly different between bidi and cigarette smokers. Duration, age and intensity of smoking were negatively and significantly correlated with LTF value while anthropometric parameters were not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoking adversely affects LTF in young asymptomatic current male smoker that further declines with severity of smoking and with duration regardless of type of smoking. With years to come, these alterations can largely be prevented by smoking cessation, at least theoretically.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Physiology, Government Medical College , Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India .
authors.forename: Bhakti P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Gadhavi
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Government Medical College , Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India .
authors.forename: Jayesh D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Solanki
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Physiology, Government Medical College , Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India .
authors.forename: Hemant B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Government Medical College , Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India .
authors.forename: Chinmay J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Physiology, Government Medical College , Baroda, Gujarat, India .
authors.forename: Pradnya A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gokhale
authors.affiliation: Tutor, Department of Physiology, GMERS Medical College , Junagadh, Gujarat, India .
authors.forename: Amit H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Makwana
keywords: Cigarette; Diffusion lung capacity; Smoking