Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The study aims to measure and compare pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in oral
submucous fibrosis (OSMF) patients (smokers/nonsmokers) and normal individuals.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population included 150 participants that comprised 50
nonsmoker OSMF patients, 50 OSMF patients who smoke as well, and 50 patients with no deleterious
habits. Spirometer was used to assess PFT.
RESULTS: Results showed that a significant P value was obtained for forced vital capacity (FVC),
forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and maximum
voluntary ventilation (MVV) and also for the predicted values of FEV, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEFR, and
MVV in OSMF (smokers/nonsmokers) study groups.
CONCLUSION: Thus, the decrease in pulmonary function can be an alarming sign for restrictive
type of pulmonary disease.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Some evidence suggests that childhood croup could be associated with increased
incidence of adulthood bronchial reactivity, but its significance is uncertain. The aim of the present
study was to evaluate the long‑term outcome of early life croup.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: This case–control study was conducted in 2010–2012 in Isfahan,
Iran. The case group consisted of 164 adolescents with a history of severe croup in early life and an
equal number of healthy controls without any history of croup or other chronic or recurrent respiratory
diseases. The two groups were compared according to pulmonary function tests and bronchial
reactivity (exercise challenge test). Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software
package, version 20 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). P < 0.05 was considered significant.
RESULTS: Baseline spirometric values (forced expiratory volume in 1st s (FEV1), forced volume
capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, and forced expiratory flow at 25%–75% (FEF25–75) were similar in case
and control groups. A reduction in FEV1 and FEF25–75 after exercise challenge test was seen in
9% and 12.8% of patients, respectively, whereas this was reduced in only 4.2% and 6.1% of the
controls (P = 0.034 and P = 0.021, respectively).
CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that childhood croup might be a predisposing factor for bronchial
hyperreactivity in adulthood. Longitudinal studies are necessary to confirm the clinical significance
of these findings.