File(s) under permanent embargo
Predictive value of non-specific bronchial challenge testing for respiratory symptoms and lung function in aluminium smelter workers
journal contribution
posted on 2020-08-01, 00:00 authored by M J Abramson, Stella May Gwini, N H De Klerk, A Del Monaco, M Dennekamp, L Fritschi, C Dimitriadis, Mohammadreza MohebbiMohammadreza Mohebbi, A W B Musk, M R SimObjective To assess the predictive value of bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) for the subsequent development of respiratory symptoms, airflow limitation and decline in lung function among aluminium smelter workers. Methods An inception cohort study of new employees at two Australian aluminium smelters was conducted. Participants completed a modified British Medical Research Council respiratory questionnaire, spirometry and a methacholine bronchial challenge test at baseline and at annual follow-up reviews. BHR was defined as PD 20 ≤4000 μg. Poisson and mixed effects models were fitted to respiratory symptoms and lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1) and FEV 1 /forced vital capacity (FVC)). Results Baseline interview and lung function testing were completed by 278 workers, who were followed for a median of 4 years. BHR at baseline, present in 82 workers, was not associated with incident wheeze risk ratio (RR)=1.07 (95% CI 0.74 to 1.55) and cough RR=0.78 (95% CI 0.45, 1.35), but there was some increased risk of chest tightness RR=1.40 (95% CI 0.99, 1.98) after adjustment for age, sex, smoking and atopy. BHR at baseline was associated with lower FEV 1 and FVC, although the rate of annual decline in FEV 1 or FVC was similar between those with or without BHR. The specificity of BHR was 77% for wheeze, 70% for cough and 77% for chest tightness, but the sensitivity was poor, at 33%, 24% and 39%, respectively. Conclusion Methacholine challenge testing at entry to employment was not sufficiently predictive of later adverse respiratory outcomes, and notwithstanding the study limitations is unlikely to be a useful pre-employment or preplacement screening test in the aluminium smelting industry.
History
Journal
Occupational and Environmental MedicineVolume
77Issue
8Pagination
535 - 539Publisher DOI
ISSN
1351-0711eISSN
1470-7926Publication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalUsage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC