Characteristics of study population (n=2743)
| Characteristics | n | % | Mean (SD) |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 2618 | 95.4 | |
| Female | 125 | 4.6 | |
| Age (years) | 62.9 (5.6) | ||
| <60 | 607 | 22.1 | |
| 60–74 | 2055 | 74.9 | |
| ≥75 | 81 | 3.0 | |
| Smoking status | |||
| Non-smokers | 698 | 25.4 | |
| Ex-smokers | 1837 | 67.0 | |
| Smokers | 208 | 7.6 | |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 27.2 (3.8) | ||
| Duration of exposure to asbestos (years) | |||
| 1–9 | 162 | 5.9 | 30.7 (10.6) |
| 10–19 | 289 | 10.5 | |
| 20–29 | 541 | 19.7 | |
| 30–39 | 1173 | 42.8 | |
| ≥40 | 578 | 21.1 | |
| Cumulative exposure index to asbestos (unit of exposure × years) | 61.5 (97.7) (median 25.0) | ||
| 0–3.4 | 631 | 23.0 | |
| 3.4–17.2 | 542 | 19.8 | |
| 17.2–33.1 | 524 | 19.1 | |
| 33.1–91.9 | 519 | 18.9 | |
| ≥91.9 | 527 | 19.2 | |
| Pulmonary function (% predicted) | |||
| FVC, mean (SD) | 98.8 (17.5) | ||
| FEV1, mean (SD) | 99.6 (20.2) | ||
| FEV1/FVC, mean (SD) | 104.3 (11.2) | ||
| FEF25-75(n=2708), mean (SD) | 92.4 (36.2) | ||
| RV (n=2039), mean (SD) | 109.7 (34.9) | ||
| TLC (n=2039), mean (SD) | 100.6 (16.0) | ||
| HRCT | |||
| Isolated pleural plaques | 403 | 14.7 | |
| Pleural plaques and other non-specific abnormalities such as emphysema and bronchiectasis (except interstitial abnormalities and diffuse pleural thickening) | 123 | 4.5 | |
| Diffuse pleural thickening and other abnormalities such as emphysema and bronchiectasis (except interstitial abnormalities) | 41 | 1.5 | |
| Other pulmonary non-specific abnormalities (except interstitial abnormalities) | 374 | 13.6 | |
| No pleuropulmonary abnormalities | 1802 | 65.7 | |
BMI, body mass index; FEF25-75, forced expiratory flow at 25–75% FVC; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC, forced vital capacity; RV, residual volume; TLC, total lung capacity.