Christopher Sames1, Desmond F Gorman2, Simon J Mitchell3, Lifeng Zhou4. 1. Clinical Director, Slark Hyperbaric Unit, PO Box 32051 Devonport, Auckland 0744, New Zealand, chris.sames@waitematadhb.govt.nz. 2. Dept of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland. 3. Dept of Anaesthesiology, University of Auckland. 4. Waitemata and Auckland District Health Boards, Auckland.
Abstract
AIM: To determine whether long-term engagement in occupational diving causes significant changes in spirometric measurements. METHOD: All divers with adequate spirometric records spanning at least 10 years were identified from the New Zealand occupational diver database. Changes in lung function over time were compared with normative values derived using published prediction equations. Any significant changes were tested for correlation with age, duration of occupational diving, gender, smoking history and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: Spirometry data spanning periods of 10 to 25 years were analysed for 232 divers. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) declined with increasing duration of diving, but slightly less than predicted with increasing age, while peak expiratory flow (PEF) declined more than expected for age in longer-term divers. The changes in PEF were statistically significant, and correlated with duration of diving exposure, initial age and final BMI. Nevertheless, the changes were small and probably clinically insignificant. CONCLUSION: We compared changes in spirometric parameters over long periods of occupational diving with normative data and found no clinically significant differences that could be attributed to diving. We found no justification for routine spirometry in asymptomatic divers. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms.
AIM: To determine whether long-term engagement in occupational diving causes significant changes in spirometric measurements. METHOD: All divers with adequate spirometric records spanning at least 10 years were identified from the New Zealand occupational diver database. Changes in lung function over time were compared with normative values derived using published prediction equations. Any significant changes were tested for correlation with age, duration of occupational diving, gender, smoking history and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: Spirometry data spanning periods of 10 to 25 years were analysed for 232 divers. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) declined with increasing duration of diving, but slightly less than predicted with increasing age, while peak expiratory flow (PEF) declined more than expected for age in longer-term divers. The changes in PEF were statistically significant, and correlated with duration of diving exposure, initial age and final BMI. Nevertheless, the changes were small and probably clinically insignificant. CONCLUSION: We compared changes in spirometric parameters over long periods of occupational diving with normative data and found no clinically significant differences that could be attributed to diving. We found no justification for routine spirometry in asymptomatic divers. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms.
Authors: Thijs T Wingelaar; Leonie Bakker; Frank J Nap; Pieter-Jan A M van Ooij; Edwin L Endert; Rob A van Hulst Journal: Front Physiol Date: 2021-01-06 Impact factor: 4.566