Comparative Assessment of Respiratory Function Parameters in Medical Students Smoking Conventional Cigarettes and Using Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems

The objective: to compare the presence and severity of respiratory disorders in students smoking conventional cigarettes and using electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).

Subjects and Methods. Spirometry was performed using a portable spirotester USPTS-01 (assessment of forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume for the first second (FEV1)) in students smoking cigarettes or using ENDS.

Results. There were no statistically significant differences in such parameters as FVC and FEV1/FVC (p >0.05). The median and quartile values of FEV1 in the group of conventional cigarette smokers were statistically significantly lower than in the group of ENDS users and made 3.5 (3.1-4.1) and 4.2 (3.7-4.5) liters, respectively, p=0.011. The frequency of disorders of pulmonary ventilation (restrictive type, moderate to severe) was 73.7% in the group of regular cigarette smokers and 61.9% in the group of ENDS users (χ2 = 0.208, p = 0.649). 

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