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- Title
SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTING IN A MEGA HEALTH FAIR.
- Authors
Almutairi, Waleed; Meyer, Nicole; Nelson, Richard; Tan, Laren; Terry, Michael; Alismail, Abdullah
- Abstract
Background Several studies reported that there is a decrease in lung function values in low socioeconomic (SES) population areas. Reports suggests that individuals in low SES have low FEV1 and FVC values compared to high SES areas. In this study we are evaluating the relationship and association between pulmonary function results and socioeconomic status in a selected population at a mega health fair in southern California. Methods: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Loma Linda University. Sixty subjects participated in this study, 32 males and 28 females with a mean age (52 ± 14.46). All subjects underwent simple spirometry testing, according to American Thoracic Society guidelines, and then answered a written questionnaire assessing their SES (income, level of education, living status, served in the military, social life, and life satisfaction). Vital signs, BMI, and neck circumference measurements were taken as well. Results: Mean Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) % was (89 ± 18.956), Forced Expiratory Volume (FEVl)% (89.13 ± 22.80), FEV1/FVC % (96.77 ± 17.67), and FEV 25-75% (89.16 ± 37.59). There was a significant indirect relationship between serving in the military and FEV1/FVC % values of (p=0.002). 14 out of 23 subjects reported current smoking with an average of 18 packs per year while 37 declined to answer smoking related questions. About 50% of subjects have some college or high school degree as highest level of education earned. About 33% of the subjected were unemployed and 25% were self-employed. There was no significance nor relationship between any spirometry results and other SES values such as income, level of education, and owning a house. Conclusion: Our study showed no significant difference between spirometry findings and socioeconomic status, this was not expected given that smoking prevalence is well documented as well as supported by our limited data, which tend to be higher amongst lower socioeconomic groups. We believe that significant findings in military personal might be due to many variables, not limited to, breathing silica from the sand, asbestosis, etc. It was also unclear as to why 61% of our subjects declined answering smoking related questions, fear of questionnaire answers finding its way to insurers maybe one facet. Our study was limited by its small sample size and further studies are warranted to demonstrate associations between pulmonary function results and socioeconomic status.
- Subjects
CALIFORNIA; PULMONARY function tests; SOCIOECONOMIC factors; HEALTH fairs
- Publication
Respiratory Care, 2016, Vol 61, Issue 10, pOF56
- ISSN
0020-1324
- Publication type
Article