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Do radiographic criteria for emphysema predict physiologic impairment?
K H Kilburn1, R H Warshaw, J C Thornton
1University of Southern California School of Medicine, Environmental Sciences Laboratory, Los Angeles, USA.
Chest
|May 1, 1995
Summary
Radiographic signs of emphysema correlate with lung function decline in workers. More emphysema indicators on chest X-rays predict worse airway obstruction and increased residual volume.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Radiology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Pulmonary emphysema's functional impact is often assessed post-mortem.
- Antemortem studies are needed to correlate early disease signs with function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate radiographic emphysema criteria with lung function in male shipyard and construction workers.
- To assess the functional consequences of emphysema identified through chest X-rays.
Main Methods:
- Chest radiographs of 4,107 male workers were scored for emphysema using five criteria.
- Lung function was measured using spirometry (FVC, FEV1, FEF25-75) and lung volumes (TLC, RV).
- Linear regression analyzed the association between radiographic emphysema criteria and lung function parameters.
Main Results:
- 10.1% of workers had two or more emphysema criteria; 24.5% had asbestosis.
- Increased radiographic emphysema criteria correlated with higher total lung capacity (TLC) and residual volume (RV)/TLC.
- Decreased airflow measures (FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75, FEV1, FVC) were associated with more emphysema criteria.
Conclusions:
- Each additional radiographic emphysema criterion worsened airway function impairment.
- Radiographic emphysema criteria showed a stronger association with increased RV/TLC than increased TLC.