Tuberc Respir Dis.  2013 Feb;74(2):56-62.

Relation of Pulmonary Function Impairment and Coronary Artery Calcification by Multi-detector Computed Tomography in Group Exposed to Inorganic Dusts

• Lee WJ
• Shin JH
• Park SY

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of pulmonary function impairment (PFI) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) by multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT), and the effect of pneumoconiosis on CAC or PFI.
METHODS
Seventy-six subjects exposed to inorganic dusts underwent coronary artery calcium scoring by MDCT, spirometry, laboratory tests, and a standardized questionnaire. CAC was quantified using a commercial software (Rapidia ver. 2.8), and all the subjects were divided into two categories according to total calcium scores (TCSs), either the non-calcified (<1) or the calcified (> or =1) group. Obstructive pulmonary function impairment (OPFI) was defined as forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC, %)<70, and as FEV1/FVC (%)> or =70 and FVC<80 for restrictive pulmonary function impairment (RPFI) by spirometry. All subjects were classified as either the case (profusion> or =1/0) or the control (profusion< or =0/1) group by pneumoconiosis findings on simple digital radiograph.
RESULTS
Of the 76 subjects, 35 subjects (46.1%) had a CAC. Age and hypertension were different significantly between the non-calcified and the calcified group (p<0.05). Subjects with pneumoconiosis were more frequent in the calcified group than those in the non-calcified group (p=0.099). FEV1/FVC (%) was significantly correlated with TCSs (r=-0.316, p=0.005). Subjects with OPFI tended to increase significantly with increasing of TCS (4.82, p=0.028), but not significantly in RPFI (2.18, p=0.140). Subjects with OPFI were significantly increased in the case group compared to those in the control group.
CONCLUSION
CAC is significantly correlated with OPFI, and CAC and OPFI may be affected by pneumoconiosis findings.

Keyword

Coronary Vessels; Vascular Calcification; Spirometry; Pneumoconiosis; Pulmonary Function Tests

MeSH Terms

Calcium
Coronary Vessels
Dust
Forced Expiratory Volume
Hypertension
Pneumoconiosis
Surveys and Questionnaires
Respiratory Function Tests
Spirometry
Vascular Calcification
Vital Capacity
Calcium
Dust

Figure

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  Figure 1 Scatterplot shows that relationship of forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC, %) and total calcium score. FEV1/FVC (%) was significantly correlated with total calcium score. Pearson's correlation coefficient was -0.316 (p=0.005).

• 

  Figure 2 Percentage of subjects with obstructive pulmonary function impairment (OPFI) tended to increase significantly according to the increase of categories of total calcium score (4.82, p=0.028), but not significant in restrictive pulmonary function impairment (RPFI; 2.18, p=0.140), by calculating the linear by linear association of chi-square test. RPFI was defined as forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC, %) ≥70 and FVC<80, and as FEV1/FVC (%)<70 for OPFI by spirometry.

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