A feasibility study of methodology for recruitment and for comparative testing of ciliary function in Hawaiians and...

Native Hawaiians have higher lung cancer incidence and mortality than other ethnic groups, even after controlling for smoking. Could reduced mucociliary clearance, suspected in Polynesians, play a role? In this pilot study of 9 Hawaiian and 8 Caucasian men, mean velocities were faster although not statistically significant in Caucasians. This pilot also generated recommendations on subject recruitment, measures, and data analysis for future studies.