Physiologic categorization of asbestos-exposed workers.
Categorization of the pattern of physiologic abnormalities in patients with asbestos-associated disease may be important for clinical, compensation, and epidemiologic reasons. A population of 658 asbestos-exposed workers was divided into six groups (restrictive, mixed restrictive-obstructive, obstructive, abnormal diffusing capacity, small airway disease, and normal) based upon pulmonary function test results. Use of two commonly employed prediction equations for diffusing capacity produced divergent results. Adjustment of the forced vital capacity for airtrapping based upon measurement of residual volume or of total lung capacity can improve the accuracy of categorization, particularly in smokers. Hence, the process of interpretation of pulmonary function testing should be chosen carefully.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014797:Vital Capacity