title: Evolution of the ventilatory function of professional divers over 10 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study was aimed at assessing changes in respiratory function after 10 years of professional diving.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was performed on divers who underwent an initial visit and a visit 10 years later at the same medical center. Pulmonary function tests were performed in the same laboratory with the same operating standards and using a Jaeger MasterBody plethysmograph. Each subject acted as his own control. The data were analyzed by Student's t-test and Spearman's correlation coefficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three divers were included. Changes over 10 years included: decreases in the forced expiratory flow rates at 75% (-0.65 liters/second) (p < 0.01) and at 50% (-0.51 L/s) (p < 0.01) of forced vital capacity; significant decrease of the FEV1/FVC ratio (-3.4) (< 0.01); significant increases in total lung capacity (+0.32 L) (p = 0.03). The lung transfer factor for carbon monoxide (TL(CO)) had decreased significantly (-1.16 mmol/minute/kPa) (p = 0.02). The amount of smoking was significantly correlated with changes in slow vital capacity (R = 0.89; (p < 0.01). Changes in the FEV1/ FVC ratio were correlated with the mean duration of the dives (R = -0.59; (p < 0.01) and with the number of dives during the 10 years (R = -0.42; p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With increasing length of diving activities service, the pulmonary function displays a trend toward both a decrease in TL(CO) and a bronchial obstruction, extending to bronchi of increasing size.
authors: French Society of Maritime Medicine (SFMM), Brest, France. richard.pougnet@live.fr
authors: Pougnet
authors: P
authors: Richard
authors: Henckes
authors: H
authors: Anne
authors: Mialon
authors: M
authors: Philippe
authors: Lucas
authors: L
authors: David
authors: Pougnet
authors: P
authors: Laurence
authors: Garlantézec
authors: G
authors: Ronan
authors: Loddé
authors: L
authors: Brice
authors: Dewitte
authors: D
authors: Jean-Dominique
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000378:metabolism; D004242:Diving / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates / Q000502:physiology; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D005602:France; D006441:Hemoglobin A / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009929:Organ Size; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014109:Total Lung Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D006441:Hemoglobin A