The acute effects of waterpipe smoking on lung function and exercise capacity in a pilot study of healthy participants

AbstractContext: Waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) has gained popularity, but its physiologic effects have not been extensively studied: rather, studies have focused on WTS’s chronic effects or have evaluated limited respiratory/cardiac parameters.Objective: We sought to characterize in a more detailed manner the acute effects of WTS on lung function and exercise capacity.Method: We recruited 24 healthy WTS males. We used a pilot single-group pre-test (abstained from WTS for ≥48 h) post-test (within 0.5 h of a 45-min WTS session) design. We performed spirometry, diffusing lung capacity and time-limited CPE testing (CPET; cycloergometer; 2-min 20-Watt warm-up and 25-Watt increase every 2-min for 10 min).Results: Mean age was 20.4 years; Post-WTS, the following significant changes were observed: CO level increased from 3.7 ppm to 24.4; oxygen consumption decreased (from 1.86 L/min to 1.7); baseline respiratory rate increased (from 17.7 breath/min to 19.7); forced expiratory flow over the middle half of the fo...