Impaired Pulmonary Function as a Risk Factor for Mortality

Abstract

Prospective follow-up information obtained between 1976 and 1981 on mortality among 2539 individuals showed that pulmonary function impairment is a risk factor for short-term mortality, even when risk factors such as age, sex, and smoking are considered. Predicted risk curves for impaired individuals (those with forced expiratory volume in one second less than 68% of forced vital capacity) are consistently higher among all race-sex categories over all ages. Survival analysis using the proportional hazards model shows a steeper decline in estimated survival among individuals with poor pulmonary function compared to those with good pulmonary function, adjusted for age, race, and smoking effects. These observations are consistent with the concept that impairment of pulmonary function is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality from several nonrespiratory as well as respiratory diseases and that it acts by contributing to various pathogenic mechanisms in different organ systems.

Glycemic Exposure Is Associated With Reduced Pulmonary Function in Type 2 Diabetes

“…Several studies have found an association between impaired lung function and death (32)(33)(34). We found that a 10% decrease in FEV 1 was associated with a 12% increase in all-cause mortality, a figure very similar to the 11-15% increase found in the general population (14,35,36), including a report from Busselton (15).…”

Gene promoter methylation is associated with lung function in the elderly: The normative aging study

“…Similar associations were found in the secondary analyses looking at individual positions within each gene (Table S4), but only some of the positions showed significant associations: mortality, [13][14][15] though the causal pathways are poorly understood. 13,16 Faster lung function decline has been associated with increased risks of hospitalizations related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 17 which is a leading cause of mortality in all countries.…”

Predictors of Congestive Heart Failure Mortality in Elderly People From the General Population The CArdiovascular STudy in the ELderly (CASTEL)

“…42) FEV 1 and VC are the tests most widely used for the diagnosis of impaired pulmonary function, and are considered independent risk indicators for cardiovascular diseases. 43) In our study the inverse relationship between FEV 1 or VC and CHF mortality persisted after adjustment for age; according to Kannel, et al 44) reduced pulmonary function therefore independently predicts CHF death. The mechanism of this association is not well established.…”