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Sensitive methods for assessment of lung health in welders and controls

Petersson Sjögren, Madeleine LU ; Kåredal, Monica LU orcid ; Broberg, Karin LU orcid ; Assarsson, Eva LU ; Thuresson, Sara LU ; Dierschke, Katrin LU ; Hedmer, Maria LU orcid ; Rissler, Jenny LU ; Wollmer, Per LU and Löndahl, Jakob LU orcid (2023) In Respiratory Medicine 212.
Abstract

Background: Welders are exposed to gas and particle emissions that can cause severe lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is difficult to detect COPD early and therefore mitigating measures may be delayed. The aim of this study was to investigate lung health in welders and evaluate new sensitive methods with potential to assess early onset pulmonary changes in occupational settings. Methods: This study assessed the lung health and symptoms in active welders (n = 28) and controls (n = 17). Lung measurements were performed with standard spirometry and new methods: airspace dimension assessment (AiDA), oscillometry, blood serum biomarkers (club cell... (More)

Background: Welders are exposed to gas and particle emissions that can cause severe lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is difficult to detect COPD early and therefore mitigating measures may be delayed. The aim of this study was to investigate lung health in welders and evaluate new sensitive methods with potential to assess early onset pulmonary changes in occupational settings. Methods: This study assessed the lung health and symptoms in active welders (n = 28) and controls (n = 17). Lung measurements were performed with standard spirometry and new methods: airspace dimension assessment (AiDA), oscillometry, blood serum biomarkers (club cell secretory protein 16, surfactant protein D, matrix metalloproteinases, fibroblast, hepatocyte growth factor, interleukins), and one urine biomarker (desmosine). Results: According to spirometry measurements, all participants had normal lung function. However, prevalence of cough was significantly higher among welders compared with controls and lung changes were found in welders with the novel methods. Welders had significantly higher respiratory system resistance assessed with oscillometry, serum levels of metalloproteinases 9 and hepatocyte growth factor, compared with controls. Airspace dimensions were on average higher among welders compared with controls, but the difference was not significant. The number of welding years correlated with decreased respiratory system reactance and increased serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases 9, interleukin 6, and hepatocyte growth factor. Airspace dimension assessment indices were correlated with increasing levels of inflammatory markers and matrix metalloproteinases. Conclusions: This study indicated the potential to use new and more sensitive methods for identification of changes in lungs when standard spirometry failed to do so.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Airspace dimension assessment with nanoparticles AiDA, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Occupational exposure, Oscillometry, Respiratory diagnostics, Respiratory disease biomarkers, Welders
in
Respiratory Medicine
volume
212
article number
107244
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:37062499
  • scopus:85152572924
ISSN
0954-6111
DOI
10.1016/j.rmed.2023.107244
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0b3ef292-5bf7-4950-b41b-167e7759907b
date added to LUP
2023-06-20 12:50:48
date last changed
2024-04-19 22:59:46
@article{0b3ef292-5bf7-4950-b41b-167e7759907b,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Welders are exposed to gas and particle emissions that can cause severe lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is difficult to detect COPD early and therefore mitigating measures may be delayed. The aim of this study was to investigate lung health in welders and evaluate new sensitive methods with potential to assess early onset pulmonary changes in occupational settings. Methods: This study assessed the lung health and symptoms in active welders (n = 28) and controls (n = 17). Lung measurements were performed with standard spirometry and new methods: airspace dimension assessment (AiDA), oscillometry, blood serum biomarkers (club cell secretory protein 16, surfactant protein D, matrix metalloproteinases, fibroblast, hepatocyte growth factor, interleukins), and one urine biomarker (desmosine). Results: According to spirometry measurements, all participants had normal lung function. However, prevalence of cough was significantly higher among welders compared with controls and lung changes were found in welders with the novel methods. Welders had significantly higher respiratory system resistance assessed with oscillometry, serum levels of metalloproteinases 9 and hepatocyte growth factor, compared with controls. Airspace dimensions were on average higher among welders compared with controls, but the difference was not significant. The number of welding years correlated with decreased respiratory system reactance and increased serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases 9, interleukin 6, and hepatocyte growth factor. Airspace dimension assessment indices were correlated with increasing levels of inflammatory markers and matrix metalloproteinases. Conclusions: This study indicated the potential to use new and more sensitive methods for identification of changes in lungs when standard spirometry failed to do so.</p>}},
  author       = {{Petersson Sjögren, Madeleine and Kåredal, Monica and Broberg, Karin and Assarsson, Eva and Thuresson, Sara and Dierschke, Katrin and Hedmer, Maria and Rissler, Jenny and Wollmer, Per and Löndahl, Jakob}},
  issn         = {{0954-6111}},
  keywords     = {{Airspace dimension assessment with nanoparticles AiDA; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Occupational exposure; Oscillometry; Respiratory diagnostics; Respiratory disease biomarkers; Welders}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Respiratory Medicine}},
  title        = {{Sensitive methods for assessment of lung health in welders and controls}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2023.107244}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.rmed.2023.107244}},
  volume       = {{212}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}