title: The effect of habitual waterpipe tobacco smoking on pulmonary function and exercise capacity in young healthy males: A pilot study.
abstract: Evidence regarding the health effects of habitual waterpipe smoking is limited, particularly in young smokers. Respiratory health and cardiopulmonary exercise tests were compared in young male habitual waterpipe smokers (WPS) versus non-smokers.
  
  
  
  69 WPS (≥3 times/week for three years) and 69 non-smokers were studied. Respiratory health was assessed through the American Thoracic Society and the Division of Lung Diseases (ATS-DLD-78) adult questionnaire. Pulmonary function and cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed. Self-reported respiratory symptoms, forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio, forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC (FEF25-75%), peak expiratory flow (PEF), exercise time, peak end-tidal CO2tension (PetCO2), subject-reported leg fatigue and dyspnea; peak O2uptake (VO2max), and end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) change from baseline (at peak exercise) were measured.
  
  
  
  WPS were more likely than non-smokers to report respiratory symptoms. WPS also demonstrated: shorter exercise time; lower peak VO2; higher perceived dyspnea at mid-exercise; lower values of the following: FEV1, FVC, PEF, and EELV change.
  
  
  
  Habitual waterpipe tobacco smoking in young seemingly healthy individuals is associated with a greater burden of respiratory symptoms and impaired exercise capacity.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan; Cancer Control Office, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan. Electronic address: fhawari@khcc.jo.
authors.forename: F I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Hawari
authors.affiliation: Cancer Control Office, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Obeidat
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Therapy Services, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Ghonimat
authors.affiliation: Independent Tobacco Control & Tobacco Dependence Treatment Consultant, Private Practice, Jordan.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ayub
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Therapy Services, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Dawahreh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult; D014026:Nicotiana
keywords: Exercise testing; Lung function; Respiratory symptoms; Waterpipe; Youth