Chest
Clinical Investigations: Pulmonary FunctionWeight Gain and Longitudinal Changes in Lung Function in Steel Workers
Section snippets
Cohort Data Analysis
Subject selection, spirometry procedures, and dust exposure assessment have been described in detail elsewhere.7 Briefly, subjects were chosen from a total cohort of 1,171 medical records of steel mill workers obtained from the medical department of a steel company. These workers had participated in spirometry tests at least once from 1980 to 1991, and in some instances, as many as 12 times. Spirometry was performed with the subject in the standing position in the workplace by registered nurses
Cohort Data Analysis
Table 1 displays the demographic characteristics and pulmonary function results in the 541 study subjects, stratified by smoking status at follow-up. The average age at the midpoint of follow-up approximated 40 years. The FEV1 and FVC declined an average of 44 and 50 mL/yr, respectively, for the cohort as a whole. The FEV1 and FVC declined 52 and 54 mL/yr for current smokers, 43 and 53 mL/yr for ex-smokers, and 36 and 43 mL/yr for nonsmokers, respectively. The difference in the rate of FEV1
Discussion
Numerous epidemiologic studies have explored the risk factors associated with the decline of lung function in workers. Longitudinal studies have documented accelerated losses in lung function in relation to aging, dust exposure, and cigarette smoking. However, why certain workers experience accelerated rates of lung function decline (rapid decliners) in association with industrial exposures remains largely unexplained. Factors that may be responsible for the development of airways obstruction
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Supported by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Cooperative Agreement U60/CCU306149.