title: Impairment of pulmonary function and changes in the right cardiac structure of pneumoconiotic coal workers in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information on the changes of pulmonary function and the right cardiac structure in patients with coal worker's pneumoconiosis in China is very scarce. This study was performed to clarify the changes of pulmonary function and right cardiac structure in patients with coal worker's pneumoconiosis in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pulmonary function, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, and the right cardiac structure were evaluated by spirometry and color Doppler echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pulmonary artery systolic pressure of patients with coal worker's pneumoconiosis was increased with disease severity. Patients with coal worker's pneumoconiosis also exhibited an impaired pulmonary function and altered right cardiac structure compared with control subjects. A significant linear correlation of the variables of pulmonary ventilation and diffusion function with the indicators of the right cardiac structure was found in patients with coal worker's pneumoconiosis in China.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study elucidated a deterioration of pulmonary function and right cardiac structure in patients with coal worker's pneumoconiosis in China.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, China (Tongji University School of Medicine, Department of Pneumoconiosis). bianlqsph@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lu-Qin
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, China (Tongji University School of Medicine, Department of Pneumoconiosis).
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, China (Tongji University School of Medicine, Department of Cardio-Pulmonary Circulation).
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, China (Tongji University School of Medicine, Department of Pneumoconiosis).
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D055008:Anthracosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D062186:Arterial Pressure; D002681:China; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013147:Spirometry; D013599:Systole
keywords: coal worker’s pneumoconiosis; pulmonary artery systolic pressure; pulmonary function; right cardiac structure