• Firdaus A A Mohamed Hoesein, Pim A de Jong, Jan-Willem J Lammers, Willem Pthm Mali, Michael Schmidt, Harry J de Koning, Carlijn van der Aalst, Matthijs Oudkerk, Rozemarijn Vliegenthart, Bram van Ginneken, Eva M van Rikxoort, and Pieter Zanen.
• Department of Respiratory Medicine, Division of Heart & Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. fmohamedhoesein@gmail.com
• Plos One. 2013 Jan 1;8(6):e65177.

BackgroundThere is increasing evidence that structural lung changes may be present before the occurrence of airflow limitation as assessed by spirometry. This study investigated the prevalence of computed tomography (CT) quantified emphysema, airway wall thickening and gas trapping according to classification of airflow limitation (FEV1/FVC <70% and/or < the lower limit of normal (LLN)) in (heavy) smokers.MethodsA total number of 1,140 male former and current smokers participating in a lung cancer screenings trial (NELSON) were included and underwent chest CT scanning and spirometry. Emphysema was quantified by the 15(th) percentile, air way wall thickening by the square root of wall area for a theoretical airway with 10mm lumen perimeter (Pi10) and gas trapping by the mean lung density expiratory/inspiratory (E/I)-ratio. Participants were classified by entry FEV1/FVC: group 1>70%; group 2<70% but >LLN; and group 370% but FEV1 <80% predicted, were excluded. Multivariate regression analysis correcting for covariates was used to asses the extent of emphysema, airway wall thickening and gas trapping according to three groups of airflow limitation.ResultsMean (standard deviation) age was 62.5 (5.2) years and packyears smoked was 41.0 (18.0). Group 2 subjects when compared to group 1 had a significantly lower 15(th) percentile, -920.6 HU versus -912.2 HU; a higher Pi10, 2.87 mm versus 2.57 mm; and a higher E/I-ratio, 88.6% versus 85.6% (all p<0.001).ConclusionSubjects with an FEV1/FVC<70%, but above the LLN, have a significant greater degree of structural lung changes on CT compared to subjects without airflow limitation.

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