Workplace spirometry monitoring for respiratory disease prevention: a methods review.
This report reviews methods applicable in workplace spirometry monitoring for the identification of individuals with excessive lung function decline. Specific issues addressed include 1) maintaining longitudinal spirometry data precision at an acceptable level so that declines due to adverse physiological processes in the lung can be readily detected in an individual; 2) applying interpretative strategies that have a high likelihood of identifying workers at risk of developing lung function impairment; and 3) enhancing effectiveness of spirometry monitoring for intervention and disease prevention. Applications in ongoing computerized spirometry monitoring programs are described that demonstrate approaches to improving spirometry data precision and quality, and facilitating informed decision-making on disease prevention.
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Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
Glindmeyer
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Petsonk
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D003657:Decision Making; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013147:Spirometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D017132:Workplace