Tiwari Rajnarayan Ramshankar
National Institute of Miners' Health, Nagpur, India.
Respir Care. 2016 Dec;61(12):1659-1663. doi: 10.4187/respcare.04903. Epub 2016 Aug 2.
Peak expiratory flow (PEF) is a spirometric test that detects obstructive changes in the respiratory tract; has good correlation with the FEV; and is much less expensive, simpler, and easier to perform under field conditions than FEV. Chronic silicosis is also known to have obstructive features in advanced stages. Thus, this study was performed to assess the effect of silica exposure on PEF and the factors related to it.
The present study was carried out among 193 slate pencil cutting workers of Multanpura village of Madhya Pradesh, India. An interview technique was used to record demographic characteristics and occupational history on a predesigned form, which included a questionnaire regarding occupational history and silica-related respiratory morbidities. This was followed by a complete medical examination and measurement of PEF using a spirometer.
The mean age was 43.35 ± 11.31 y, and the mean duration of exposure was 18.72 ± 9.33 y. In the present study, PEF was found to be significantly reduced in those age ≥40 y, those who were female, those having duration of exposure >10 y, and those having respiratory morbidity, whereas the reduction in PEF was statistically nonsignificant for smokers.
Higher age, female sex, higher duration of exposure, and respiratory morbidity were found to be important correlates of PEF.
呼气峰值流速（PEF）是一种检测呼吸道阻塞性变化的肺量计测试；与第一秒用力呼气容积（FEV）具有良好的相关性；并且比FEV便宜得多，更简单，在现场条件下更易于操作。慢性矽肺病在晚期也具有阻塞性特征。因此，本研究旨在评估二氧化硅暴露对PEF的影响及其相关因素。
本研究在印度中央邦穆尔坦普拉村的193名石板铅笔切割工人中进行。采用访谈技术，在预先设计的表格上记录人口统计学特征和职业史，该表格包括一份关于职业史和与二氧化硅相关的呼吸道疾病的问卷。随后进行全面的医学检查，并使用肺量计测量PEF。
平均年龄为43.35±11.31岁，平均暴露时间为18.72±9.33年。在本研究中，发现年龄≥40岁、女性、暴露时间>10年以及患有呼吸道疾病的人群中PEF显著降低，而吸烟者的PEF降低在统计学上无显著意义。
年龄较大、女性、暴露时间较长和呼吸道疾病是PEF的重要相关因素。
