Source: Annual Congress 2002 - Asbestos and silica
Disease area: Airway diseases

Abstract

In order to test if an extrapolation of the reference equations for lung function of the EC (ERJ, 1993) can be performed beyond the age of 65yrs, correlation of lung function and age in elderly healthy non-smoking subjects was compared to uranium miners with silicosis. Methods: In 254 former uranium miners (age 72.1 ±] 6.5 yrs, range 60 to 87 yrs.) entering a hospital specialized on occupational diseases, lung function was examined by spirometry. The results were compared to 72 healthy non-smoking subjects (70.6 ±] 11.3 yrs, range 60 to 90 yrs). Results: In healthy subjects, the linear correlation of the reference equations of the EC can be extended for elderly above the age of 65 yrs until to the age of 90 yrs. VC in healthy subjects was not significantly larger than in patients with silicosis. Forced lung volumes (FVC, FEV1, FEV1%FVC) as well as PEF and MEF50 were normal in healthy elderly subjects, but significantly decreased (p<0.0005) in patients with silicosis.

	VC (%pred.)	FVC (%pred.)	FEV1 (%pred.)	FEV1%VC (%pred)	PEF (%pred.)	MEF50 (%pred.)
NormalSubjects	95.0 ±] 16.0	98.1 ±] 12.0	98.6 ±] 16.7	103.3 ±] 8.8	98.2 ±] 21.2	96.6 ±] 28.2
Silicosis	91.4 ±] 18.7	85.2 ±] 17.7	59.9 ±] 13.8	80.7 ±] 18.1	63.5 ±] 25.3	37.8 ±] 25.8

Conclusion: The results of our study enable to extrapolate the equations for European Community reference values for lung function above the age of 65yrs and show a significantly decreased lung function of elderly patients with silicosis.

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Citations should be made in the following way:
A. Flechsig, W. Marek, N. Kotschy-Lang (Bochum, Germany). Lung function in elderly former uranium miners with silicosis. Eur Respir J 2002; 20: Suppl. 38, 852

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