Relationship between current smoking, visual CT findings and emphysema index in cigarette smokers.

•On quantitative assessment, the emphysema index was 5.5% higher in the former smokers than in the current smokers.•The visual emphysema score, centrilobular nodules and airway wall thickening were different by smoking status (p < 0.05).•After adjusting, multivariate analysis showed the effect of current smoking on the emphysema index decreased (p < 0.001).•Inflammation of the airway by current smoking may account in part for the decrease in emphysema index in current smokers.