D M Mannino1, R A Etzel, W D Flanders. 1. National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We sought to determine whether an abnormal respiratory history or chest physical examination could be used to identify men with low lung function. METHODS: We analyzed pulmonary function, physical examination, and questionnaire data from 4461 middle-aged male Vietnam-era army veterans. MAIN RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 1161 never smokers, 1292 former smokers, and 2008 current smokers. Clinical indicators of respiratory disease (respiratory symptoms, respiratory signs, or a history of respiratory disease), were present in 26.1% of the never smokers, 31.7% of the former smokers, and 47.2% of the current smokers. We defined low forced expiratory volume in 1 second as a value less than 81.2% of the predicted value. Seven percent of the never smokers, 8% of the former smokers, and 17.3% of the current smokers demonstrated low forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Among those with a clinical indicator for spirometry only 11% of the never smokers, 13% of the former smokers, and 21% of the current smokers actually had a low forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Among those without a clinical indicator 6% of the never smokers, 6% of the former smokers, and 14% of the current smokers actually had a low forced expiratory volume in 1 second. CONCLUSIONS: The use of clinical indicators as a basis for obtaining pulmonary function tests in middle-aged men misses many with low lung function, especially current smokers.
BACKGROUND: We sought to determine whether an abnormal respiratory history or chest physical examination could be used to identify men with low lung function. METHODS: We analyzed pulmonary function, physical examination, and questionnaire data from 4461 middle-aged male Vietnam-era army veterans. MAIN RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 1161 never smokers, 1292 former smokers, and 2008 current smokers. Clinical indicators of respiratory disease (respiratory symptoms, respiratory signs, or a history of respiratory disease), were present in 26.1% of the never smokers, 31.7% of the former smokers, and 47.2% of the current smokers. We defined low forced expiratory volume in 1 second as a value less than 81.2% of the predicted value. Seven percent of the never smokers, 8% of the former smokers, and 17.3% of the current smokers demonstrated low forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Among those with a clinical indicator for spirometry only 11% of the never smokers, 13% of the former smokers, and 21% of the current smokers actually had a low forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Among those without a clinical indicator 6% of the never smokers, 6% of the former smokers, and 14% of the current smokers actually had a low forced expiratory volume in 1 second. CONCLUSIONS: The use of clinical indicators as a basis for obtaining pulmonary function tests in middle-aged men misses many with low lung function, especially current smokers.
Authors: Fernando Gracia; Blas Armien; Steven Q Simpson; Carlos Munoz; Candida Broce; Juan Miguel Pascale; Frederick Koster Journal: Lung Date: 2010-06-04 Impact factor: 2.584
Authors: Valentin Prieto Centurion; Frank Huang; Edward T Naureckas; Carlos A Camargo; Jeffrey Charbeneau; Min J Joo; Valerie G Press; Jerry A Krishnan Journal: BMC Pulm Med Date: 2012-12-07 Impact factor: 3.317