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Lung function in patients with lung injury due to household chemical inhalation: Post hoc analysis of a prospective nationwide cohort
Author(s) -
Kim WonYoung,
Park Soonyoung,
Kim Hwa Jung,
Chae Eun Jin,
Do KyungHyun,
Huh Jin Won,
Lim ChaeMan,
Koh Younsuck,
Hong SangBum
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1111/resp.12918
Subject(s) - medicine , vital capacity , inhalation , prospective cohort study , cohort , pulmonary function testing , lung volumes , lung , post hoc analysis , lung function , surgery , anesthesia , diffusing capacity
Background and objective Inhalation exposure to household chemicals can result in serious health problems, although the long‐term outcomes are unclear. We evaluated the changes in lung function after home humidifier disinfectant ( HD ) exposure. Methods This post hoc analysis of a prospective nationwide cohort involved patients with inhalation lung injury due to HD . Patients underwent spirometric measurements at onset and annually thereafter. Results Forty subjects met the eligibility criteria. Overall, mean forced vital capacity ( FVC ) increased significantly during the first 3 years from 2.10 ± 0.74 to 3.06 ± 1.08 L. Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s ( FEV 1 ) also rose from 1.84 ± 0.63 to 2.62 ± 0.88 L. Both variables then stabilized. However, in 19 (48%) patients, the FVCs did not normalize. Compared to subjects with an FVC at onset of <2.5 L, subjects with onset FVC ≥2.5 L exhibited significantly more improvement in percent predicted FVC over time (group × time interaction: P < 0.001). Patients with lower exposure also exhibited increasing percent predicted FVC over time, whereas more exposed patients showed a plateau starting at year 1. On multivariate analysis, onset FVC < 2.5 L associated significantly with <80% predicted FVC at year 4 (adjusted OR : 20.33; 95% CI : 1.10–376.53; P = 0.04). Conclusion Half of the patients with inhalation injury exhibited stabilization of lung function within several years of onset. However, lung function was impaired in the remaining patients. This impairment associated with lung function at onset and exposure intensity.