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Table 5 Estimates of lung function according to radiological findings.

From: Lung function in asbestos-exposed workers, a systematic review and meta-analysis

 

Overall

Studies <22 yr. mean exposure

Studies >22 yr. mean exposure

 

n

Estimate

95% CI

I 2 (%)

n

Estimate

95% CI

I 2 (%)

n

Estimate

95% CI

I 2 (%)

FVC (% predicted)

            

   Normal imaging

11

96.2

94.4-98.0

95.9

4

97.0

94.2-99.8

96.5

7

95.7

93.4-98.0

90.8

   Pleural fibrosis

11

89.2

85.6-92.8

96.9

2

81.8

73.2-90.3

92.8

9

90.8

86.8-94.8

98.0

   Asbestosis

12

87.4

82.2-92.6

95.5

5

87.9

79.9-95.9

96.1

7

87.0

80.2-93.9

95.0

FEV1 (% predicted)

            

   Normal imaging

11

93.7

89.3-98.1

97.9

5

91.8

85.5-98.1

97.4

6

95.5

89.3-101.7

96.1

   Pleural fibrosis

9

89.2

83.9-94.5

94.8

2

84.7

73.5-95.8

35.5

7

90.6

84.6-96.5

95.5

   Asbestosis

10

86.8

82.3-91.2

84.2

5

86.4

80.3-92.5

90.4

5

87.1

80.6-93.6

66.7

FEV1/FVC (% predicted)

            

   Normal imaging

3

96.4

94.3-98.5

86.9

2

96.5

94.3-98.7

93.4

1

94.9

86.2-103.6

-

   Pleural fibrosis

4

95.5

92.9-96.2

68.2

1

96.2

94.4-97.8

-

3

93.8

91.9-95.8

48.1

   Asbestosis

7

95.8

93.8-97.9

86.1

3

97.7

95.9-99.5

0.0

4

94.6

92.0-97.2

83.2

  1. Subgroup analysis by mean exposure duration.
  2. Differences in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and the ratio of both parameters (FEV1/FVC) between subgroups with a mean exposure duration of less (<22 yr.) and more for than 22 years (>22 yr.). Results are shown for each radiological subgroup. Estimates are expressed as percent predicted together with confidence interval (CI) and I2 as a measure of heterogeneity, n = number of studies included in each subgroup.
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Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology

ISSN: 1745-6673