Diabetes May Affect Lungs Similar to Smoking

A recent study shows that patients with diabetes may have impaired lung function, similar to the impairment found in smokers. Researchers from The Netherlands conducted a literature review of 40 studies describing the pulmonary function data of 3,182 patients with diabetes and 27,080 control subjects. The metaanalysis showed that, in the absence of overt pulmonary disease, diabetes was associated with a modest but statistically significant impairment in lung function in a restrictive pattern. A subanalysis revealed that the association seemed more pronounced in type 2 diabetes compared with type 1 diabetes. Researchers explain that the degree of lung function impairment found in their study closely resembles that of smoking. They further speculate that diabetes may accelerate lung function decline in those with chronic lung conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The study is published in the August issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.

CHEST 2010; 138(2):393–406