title: Surveillance for early silicosis in high altitude miners using pulse oximetry.
abstract: Two cross-sectional studies in a high altitude region of Perú evaluated the role of pulse oximetry for detection of silicosis in high-altitude miners. In study one, exercise pulse oximetry and chest radiographs were used to evaluate 343 silica-exposed miners and 141 unexposed subjects for evidence of silicosis. Study 2 investigated the association between exercise oxygen saturation and silicosis in 32 non-silicotic and 65 silicotic miners. In study one, age (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.10, 95% Cofidence Interval (CI) 1.07-1.12) and resting oxygen saturation (OR 0.95, 95%CI 0.90-0.99) were associated with silicosis. In study two, years of mining employment (OR 1.14, 95%CI 1.05-1.23) and exercise oxygen saturation at 30% maximum heart rate (OR 0.86, 95%CI 0.75-0.99) were associated with silicosis. Hypoxemia at rest and with exercise is associated with silicosis in high altitude miners. Pulse oximetry should be further investigated as a screening tool for silicosis at high altitudes.
authors.affiliation: Asociacion Benefica PRISMA, Lima, Peru. jdonroe@gmail.com
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Donroe
authors.forename: Paola J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Maurtua-Neumann
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gilman
authors.forename: Ana Teresa
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.forename: Gene
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Jaime Carlos Alvarez
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carhuaricra
authors.forename: Juan Jose Retimozo
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Padilla
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zimic
authors.forename: David A J
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008906:Mining; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation; D010568:Peru; D012829:Silicosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires