Lung function over six years among professional divers

46Citations
Citations of this article
40Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Aims: To analyse longitudinal changes in pulmonary function in professional divers and their relation with cumulative diving exposure. Methods: The study included 87 men at the start of their education as professional divers. At follow up one, three, and six years later, 83, 81, and 77 divers were reexamined. The median number of compressed air dives in the 77 divers over the follow up period was 196 (range 37-2000). A group of non-smoking policemen (n = 64) were subjected to follow up examinations in parallel with the divers. Assessment of lung function included dynamic lung volumes, maximal expiratory flow rates, and transfer factor for carbon monoxide (TICO). The individual rates of change of the lung function variables were calculated by fitting linear regression lines to the data, expressed as percent change per year. Results: The annual reductions in forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expired volume in one second (FEV1) were 0.91 (SD 1.22) and 0.84 (SD 1.28) per cent per year in divers, which were significantly higher than the reductions in the policemen of 0.24 (SD 1.04) and 0.16 (SD 1.07) per cent per year (p < 0.001). The annual reduction in the maximal expiratory flow rotes at 25% and 75% of FVC expired (FEF25% and FEF75%) were related to the log10 transformed cumulative number of dives in a multiple regression analysis (p < 0.05). The annual reductions in TICO were 1.33 (SD 1.85) and 0.43 (SD 1.53) per cent per year in divers and policemen (p < 0.05). Conclusions: FVC, FEV1, maximal expiratory flow rates, and TICO were significantly reduced in divers over the follow up period when compared with policemen. The contrasts within and between groups suggest that diving has contributed to the reduction in lung function.

References Powered by Scopus

Standardization of spirometry--1987 update. Statement of the American Thoracic Society.

0
2333Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Single breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (transfer factor). Recommendations for a standard technique. Statement of the American Thoracic Society.

0
250Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Effects of swim training on lung volumes and inspiratory muscle conditioning

123Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Initial evaluation of the effects of aerosolized Florida red tide toxins (brevetoxins) in persons with asthma

126Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Help-seeking in the Norwegian police service

64Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Breathing at depth: Physiologic and clinical aspects of diving while breathing compressed gas

43Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Skogstad, M., Thorsen, E., Haldorsen, T., & Kjuus, H. (2002). Lung function over six years among professional divers. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 59(9), 629–633. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.59.9.629

Readers over time

‘10‘12‘13‘14‘15‘16‘17‘18‘19‘20‘21‘22‘23‘2402468

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 10

43%

Researcher 10

43%

Professor / Associate Prof. 3

13%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Medicine and Dentistry 22

71%

Sports and Recreations 5

16%

Agricultural and Biological Sciences 2

6%

Psychology 2

6%

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free
0