Application of impulse oscillometry in the measurement of pneumoconiosis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the application of impulse oscillometry system(IOS) in the measurement of pneumoconiosis.Methods One hundred and ninteen patients with pneumoconiosis and 79 healthy controls were selected randomly to perform IOS and pulmonary function test (PFT) respectively,analysed the difference and correlation of IOS and PFT.Results There were no significant differences in FEV1,FVC,FEV1/FVC and MVV between patients with first-stage pneumoconiosis and healthy controls,but significantly decreased in MEF25,MEF50,MEF75 and increased in Z5,X5,AX for patients (P ＜0.05).There were no significant differences in IOS parameters between patients with first-stage pneumoconiosis whose PFT indices were normal and healthy controls,but significantly increased in Z5,X5,Fres for patients with moderate and severe pneumoconiosis (P ＜ 0.05).Abnormal rate of IOS of mild or moderate-severe pneumoconiosis was significantly higher than PFT.Z5,R5,R20,R5-R20,Fres,AX were negatively correlated with FVC,FEV1,FEV1/FVC,MVV,MEF25,MEF50,MEF75,reversely,but X5 was positively correlated (P ＜0.05) Correlation coefficient from high to low were Fres with FEV1/FVC(r =-0.566),Fres with FEV1 (r =-0.557),Z5 with FEV1/FVC(r =-0.544),AX with FEV1/FVC(r =-0.541),R5 with FEV1/FVC(r =-0.541).Relevance was higher in moderate-severe pneumoconiosis than mild.Conclusions IOS may detect the high airway resistance in mild pneumoconiosis,and performed easily and requires less degree of adaptability,so it may be of value for the evalution of pulmonary function of pneumoconiosis. Key words: Pneumoconiosis; Pulmonary function test; Impulse oscillometry system