Respiratory function in exposed and non-exposed groups
| % FVC | % FEV1 | % FEF25–75 | % FEF25 | % FEF50 | % FEF75 | % PF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple linear regression adjusted for exposure (being a dental technician), asbestos (having been exposed to asbestos in the past), sex (being a male), smoking habits in two classes (smokers and ex-smokers versus non-smokers), and interactions between exposure to dental work and being a male, exposure to dental work and smoking, being a male and smoking. All listed variables were simultaneously included in the model. Regression coefficients and p values are shown. | |||||||
| Results expressed as mean (SD) percentage of the ECSC reference values calculated in relation to sex, age, and height. | |||||||
| FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in one second; FEF25–75, forced mid expiratory flow; FEF25, FEF50, FEF75, maximal flow rates at 25%, 50%, and 75% of exhaled FVC; PF, peak flow rate. | |||||||
| *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001. | |||||||
| Exposure | −1.42** | 0.05 (NS) | −0.27 (NS) | −1.57** | −2.75*** | −0.08 (NS) | 1.85*** |
| Sex | −2.48*** | −0.72 (NS) | 3.29*** | −0.59 (NS) | 2.10*** | 1.64*** | −4.89*** |
| Smoking | −2.83*** | −1.99*** | 0.05 (NS) | −3.80*** | −2.18*** | −2.68*** | −10.95*** |
| Asbestos | −1.05* | 0.42 (NS) | 0.28 (NS) | −2.70*** | 1.35** | 5.21*** | 1.43** |
| Exposure–sex | −2.03*** | −1.17** | −3.05*** | −7.17*** | −4.23*** | 1.63*** | −0.78 (NS) |
| Exposure–smoking | −2.74*** | −4.96*** | −9.09*** | −11.43*** | −6.39*** | −3.32*** | 1.18** |
| Sex–smoking | −1.83*** | −0.16 (NS) | 3.69*** | 1.47** | 1.99*** | −1.50** | 7.56*** |
| Constant | 97.2 | 100.5 | 104.6 | 109.9 | 99.6 | 99.7 | 103.7 |
| r2 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.02 | |||