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. 2025 Feb:183:111905.
doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2024.111905. Epub 2024 Dec 28.

CT-based airway changes after smoking cessation in the general population

Ivan Dudurych  1 , Grigory Sidorenkov  2 , Marcel van Tuinen  3 , Dirk-Jan Slebos  4 , Geertruida H de Bock  5 , Maarten van den Berge  6 , Marleen de Bruijne  7 , Rozemarijn Vliegenthart  8
Affiliations
Free article

CT-based airway changes after smoking cessation in the general population

Ivan Dudurych et al. Eur J Radiol. 2025 Feb.
Free article

Abstract

Purpose: Previous research has demonstrated improvements in CT-derived bronchial parameters in the first years after smoking cessation. This study investigates the association between longer smoking cessation duration and bronchial parameters in lung-healthy and lung-unhealthy ex-smokers from the general population.

Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using low-dose CT scans of ex-smokers from the general population with at least 10 pack-years from the ImaLife study, a sub study within the Lifelines cohort. Participants ⩾45 years who completed a lung-function test were recruited for low-dose CT imaging. We divided them into lung-healthy and lung-unhealthy based on spirometry, self-reported diagnosis and imaging signs of respiratory disease. Bronchial parameters Pi10, wall thickness, luminal area and wall area percent (WAP) were obtained using a previously validated method. Multivariable linear regression (MLR) was used to evaluate the independent associations between smoking cessation duration and bronchial parameters, adjusting for sex, age, height, weight, and pack-years.

Results: The study included 1,869 ex-smokers; 1,421 (76 %) were classified as lung-healthy (58 % men, mean age 64.2 ± 9.8 years, pack-years 16.5 [12.5-23.3], smoking cessation duration 20.0 [14.0-29.0] years) and 448 (24 %) as unhealthy (56 % men, mean age 66.1 ± 10.5 years, pack-years 18.2 [13.4-25.2], smoking cessation duration 20.0 [13.8-29.0] years). In the lung-unhealthy group, individuals with a longer duration of smoking cessation had a lower WAP compared to those with a shorter cessation duration (-0.528 % per 10 years, p = 0.005). In contrast, in MLR no significant associations were observed for the lung-healthy group..

Conclusions: In individuals with respiratory conditions, longer smoking cessation duration is related to a decrease in wall area percent of the bronchial walls. The results suggest the potential for improvements in airway health when people quit smoking, warranting further investigation with longitudinal studies.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Bronchi; Computed Tomography, X-Ray; General Population; Smoking; Thorax.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: [I. Dudurych - This study is part of the first author’s PhD which has received funding by IMDI (Innovative Medical Devices Initiative)/ZonMW (Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development. G. Sidorenkov – Nothing to declare. M. van Tuinen – Nothing to declare. D. Slebos – Advisor for Thirona, Nijmegen, NL. G. H. de Bock – Nothing to declare. M. van den Berge – Research grants to University from GlaxoSmithKline, Astra Zeneca, Novartis, and Roche. M. de Bruijne – received funding from the Dutch research Council, project VI.C.182.042. R. Vliegenthart – received funding from IMDI (Innovative Medical Devices Initiative)/ZonMW (Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development), and Siemens Healthineers. Honorarium from Siemens Healthineers and Bayer (invited lectures)].

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