BACKGROUND: There is significant concern about the respiratory health of deployed military service members given the reported airborne hazards in southwest Asia, which range from geologic dusts, burn pit emissions, chemical exposures, and increased rates of smoking. There has been no previous comparison of pre-and post-deployment lung function in these individuals. METHODS: Military personnel who deployed to southwest Asia in support of ongoing military operations were recruited from the Soldier Readiness Processing Center at Fort Hood, Texas, from 2011 to 2014. The participants were asked to complete a brief survey on their respiratory health and perform both spirometry and impulse oscillometry studies at baseline with repeated survey and testing after deployment. RESULTS: Of the 1,693 deployed personnel who completed baseline examinations, 843 (50%) completed post-deployment testing. Post-deployment values demonstrated no statistical or clinical change in spirometry, with an increase in mean ؎ SD FEV 1 (% predicted) from 95.2 ؎ 12.6 to 96.1 ؎ 12.4 (P ؍ .14), increase in mean ؎ SD FVC (% predicted) from 95.9 ؎ 11.8 to 96.4 ؎ 11.9 (P ؍ .32), and increase in mean ؎ SD FEV 1 /FVC from 81.5 ؎ 5.9 to 81.8 ؎ 6.1 (P ؍ .29). Impulse oscillometry values showed statistical improvement with reduction in resistance (at 5 Hz and 20 Hz) and reactance (at 5 Hz). The presence of pre-deployment obstruction, self-reported asthma, smoking history, or increased body mass index also did not change spirometry values after deployment. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, this was the first prospective evaluation of deploying military by using spirometry as an indicator for the possible development of pulmonary disease related to environmental exposures. Pre-deployment testing with spirometry and impulse oscillometry was unable to detect any significant change. In those with abnormal spirometry pre-deployment or asthma history, there was also not identifiable change that indicated worsening lung function. CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of spirometry for the deploying military population had little benefit and did not identify individuals with lung disease after deployment. Routine use was not warranted before or after deployment in the absence of pulmonary symptoms.
FB in the elderly demonstrated no differences in procedural complications, diagnostic yield, and utility of the procedure for an underlying diagnosis. This study suggests bronchoscopy is as safe and useful in the very elderly as a population of the age of 65 to 79.
Pre-deployment evaluation of military personnel identified numerous soldiers with active pulmonary symptoms and abnormal spirometry. When combined with questions regarding asthma history, wheezing and exercise intolerance, spirometry may identify individuals at risk for deployment-related respiratory complaints.
High-dose ionizing radiation exposure causes pneumonitis and fibrosis, and more research is needed to develop mitigators to improve outcomes in nuclear catastrophes. Long-term, low-dose occupational radiation may increase lung cancer risk. More research to better define this risk could lead to improved safety protocols and screening programs.
IntroductionThe utilisation of chest CT for the evaluation of pulmonary disorders, including low-dose CT for lung cancer screening, is increasing in the USA. As a result, the discovery of both screening-detected and incidental pulmonary nodules has become more frequent. Despite an overall low risk of malignancy, pulmonary nodules are a common cause of emotional distress among adult patients.MethodsWe conducted a multi-institutional quality improvement (QI) initiative involving 101 participants to determine the effect of a pulmonary nodule fact sheet on patient knowledge and anxiety. Males and females aged 35 years or older, who had a history of either screening-detected or incidental solid pulmonary nodule(s) sized 3–8 mm, were included. Prior to an internal medicine or pulmonary medicine clinic visit, participants were given a packet containing a pre-fact sheet survey, a pulmonary nodule fact sheet and a post-fact sheet survey.ResultsOf 101 patients, 61 (60.4%) worried about their pulmonary nodule at least once per month with 18 (17.8%) worrying daily. The majority 67/101 (66.3%) selected chemotherapy, chemotherapy and radiation, or radiation as the best method to cure early-stage lung cancer. Despite ongoing radiographic surveillance, 16/101 (15.8%) stated they would not be interested in an intervention if lung cancer was diagnosed. Following review of the pulmonary nodule fact sheet, 84/101 (83.2%) reported improved anxiety and 96/101 (95.0%) reported an improved understanding of their health situation. Patient understanding significantly improved from 4.2/10.0 to 8.1/10.0 (p<0.01).ConclusionThe incorporation of a standardised fact sheet for subcentimeter solid pulmonary nodules improves patient understanding and alleviates anxiety. We plan to implement pulmonary nodule fact sheets into the care of our patients with low-risk subcentimeter pulmonary nodules.
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