Airway size and the rate of pulmonary function decline in grain handlers

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/138.6.1584· OSTI ID:6567706

Vedal, S; Enarson, D A; Chan-Yeung, M

Tracheal diameter and chest dimensions were measured from postero-anterior chest radiographs in grain handlers to prospectively identify airway size and chest size-related predictors of the rate of pulmonary function decline. A total of 634 grain workers were studied at the initial survey, of whom 239 satisfied the following inclusion criteria: (1) had a satisfactory chest radiograph taken at the initial survey in 1975, (2) performed spirometry at the 1975, 1978, and 1981 surveys, and (3) had no change in smoking status from 1975 to 1981. Radiographic measurements consisted of height of the right lung, transverse diameter of the chest at the level of the right diaphragm and at a level two-thirds up the right lung, and tracheal diameter (Tr). Areas of both lungs were measured by planimetry. Tr was only weakly related to height (r = 0.24). Increasing age was strongly associated with faster rates of FEV1 decline. After adjusting for the effects of age and cigarette smoking, Tr was the only radiographic measurement associated with FEV1 decline. Workers with Tr of 16 mm or less lost an average of 0.2% of their FEV1 per year compared to 0.9% per year for those with larger tracheas. This association was not modified by dust exposure estimates based on measurements of total dust. However, the strength of the association did depend upon smoking status, being strongest in current cigarette smokers (Tr less than or equal to 16 mm lost 0.2% annually and Tr greater than or equal to 21 mm lost 1.4% annually).

• Research Organization: Univ. of British Columbia (Canada)
• OSTI ID: 6567706
• Journal Information: Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States) Vol. 138:6; ISSN ARDSB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550602* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
AEROSOLS
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
BODY
BODY AREAS
CEREALS
CHEST
COLLOIDS
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
DYNAMIC FUNCTION STUDIES
FORECASTING
GRASS
LILIOPSIDA
LUNGS
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANS
PERSONNEL
PLANTS
RADIOLOGY
RESIDUES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SMOKES
SOLS
TOBACCO SMOKES
TRACHEA