Tuberc Respir Dis.  2010 Aug;69(2):108-114.

Changes of Pulmonary Disability Grades according to the Spirometry Reference Equations

• Lee JO
• Choi BS

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The aim was to estimate the differences between pulmonary disability grades according to the spirometry reference equations (the Korean equation and the Morris equation).
METHODS
Spirometry was performed on 16,916 male and 1,353 female special examination for pneumoconiosis, in the period of 2007~2009. Changes in predictive values for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC and in disability grade were evaluated using both equations.
RESULTS
Mean FVCs for men and women were 4,218.7 mL and 2,801.5 mL in predictive values after the application of the Korean equation, and 3,763.9 mL and 2,395.6 mL after the Morris equation, respectively. Compared with the Morris equation, the Korean equation showed 10.8% and 14.5% of excesses for men and women (p<0.001). Mean FEV1s for men and women were 3,102.5 mL and 2,107.1 mL in the Korean equation, and 2,667.8 mL and 1,699.6 mL in the Morris equation, respectively. Compared with the Morris equation, the Korean equation showed 14.0% and 19.3% of excesses for men and women (p<0.001). Men and women who showed the changes of disability grades using the Korean equation in place of the Morris equation were 23.9% (4,052/16,916) and 22.9% (311/1,353) on FVC, and 23.1% (3,913/16,916) and 10.7% (145/1,353) on FEV1.
CONCLUSION
Applying different reference equations for spirometry has resulted in changes for disability grades in special examination for pneumoconiosis.

Keyword

Spirometry; Pneumoconiosis; Morris Equation; Korean Equation

MeSH Terms

Female
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Hypogonadism
Male
Mitochondrial Diseases
Ophthalmoplegia
Pneumoconiosis
Spirometry
Vital Capacity
Hypogonadism
Mitochondrial Diseases
Ophthalmoplegia

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Effect of different reference equation on the interpretation of spirometry disability patterns.

Reference

1. Paek D, Choi JK, Choi BS, Chung KC. Normal predictive values of FVC and FEV₁ for healthy Korean male workers. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 1994. 6:175–186.

2. Miller MR, Hankinson J, Brusasco V, Burgos F, Casaburi R, Coates A, et al. ATS/ERS Task Force. Standardisation of spirometry. Eur Respir J. 2005. 26:319–338.

3. Miller MR, Crapo R, Hankinson J, Brusasco V, Burgos F, Casaburi R, et al. ATS/ERS Task Force. General considerations for lung function testing. Eur Respir J. 2005. 26:153–161.

4. American Thoracic Society. Lung function testing: selection of reference values and interpretative strategies. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1991. 144:1202–1218.

5. American Thoracic Society. Standardization of spirometry: 1994 update. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995. 152:1107–1136.

6. Choi JK, Paek D, Lee JO. Normal predictive values of spirometry in Korean population. Tuberc Respir Dis. 2005. 58:230–242.

7. Morris JF, Koski A, Johnson LC. Spirometric standards for healthy nonsmoking adults. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1971. 103:57–67.

8. Kory RC, Callahan R, Boren HG, Syner JC. The Veterans Administration-Army cooperative study of pulmonary function I Clinical spirometry in normal men. Am J Med. 1961. 30:243–258.

9. Oh YM, Hong SB, Shim TS, Lim CM, Koh Y, Kim WS, et al. Effect of a new spirometric reference equation on the interpretation of spirometric patterns and disease severity. Tuberc Respir Dis. 2006. 60:215–220.