Study of the changes in respiratory function in self-contained underwater breathing apparatus divers
Abstract
Background: The objective was to investigate the respiratory function of professional divers by conducting spirometry and to compare the data obtained with those of non-divers.
Materials and methods: This study involved 52 military divers who carried out dives at small and medium depths using a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) with open-circuit regulators attached to a mouthpiece. The control group consisted of 48 persons from deck commands with similar physiological characteristics and lifestyle that were not divers and had never been under increased pressure.
Results: It was found that, compared with non-divers, the spirometry parameters of the divers are charac- terised by higher values of forced vital capacity (FVC) of the lungs (p = 0.02), but significantly lower values of the mid-expiratory flow (MEF) parameters: MEF25 (p = 0.06), MEF50 (p = 0.04), and MEF75 (p = 0.01), as well as for the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC; p = 0.001) and MEF25–75/FVC ratio (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Hyperoxia, gas decompression bubbles, hypothermia, mouth-breathing dry, cold, compressed air, and other factors accompanying the diving activity are capable of initiating damage to the airways, which is reflected in characteristic changes in spirometry. The pattern of these changes is consistent with small airway obstruction and they could be related mostly to diving activities.
Keywords: spirometry of diversairway injuries in diversrespiratory function
References
- Watt SJ. Effect of commercial diving on ventilatory function. Br J Ind Med. 1985; 42(1): 59–62.
- Wilson A. Prevalence and characteristics of lung function changes in recreational scuba divers. Prim Care Respir J. 2011; 20(1): 59–63.
- Elliott DH, Moon RE. Long-term health effects of diving. In: Bennett PB, , eds. The Physiology and Medicine of Diving. 4th Edn. London, Saunders. 1993: 585–604.
- Tetzlaff K, Friege L, Reuter M, et al. Expiratory flow limitation in compressed air divers and oxygen divers. Eur Respiratory J. 1998; 12(4): 895–899.
- Dembert ML, Beck GJ, Jekel JF, et al. Relations of smoking and diving experience to pulmonary function among U.S. Navy divers. Undersea Biomed Res. 1984; 11(3): 299–304.
- Najim AH. Alewi, Jasim N. Al-Asadi, Omran S. Habib. Тhe effects of diving on pulmonary function. The Medical Journal of Basrah University. 2006; 24(18.2): 55–59.
- Sames C, Gorman DF, Mitchell SJ, et al. The long-term effects of compressed gas diving on lung function in New Zealand occupational divers: a retrospective analysis. Diving Hyperb Med. 2009; 39(3): 133–137.
- Crosbie WA, Reed JW, Clarke MC. Functional characteristics of the large lungs found in commercial divers. J Applied Physiology. 1979; 46(4): 639–645.
- Miller MR, Hankinson J, Brusasco V, et al. ATS/ERS Task Force. Standardisation of spirometry. Eur Respir J. 2005; 26(2): 319–338.
- Stang P, Lydick E, Silberman C, et al. The prevalence of COPD: using smoking rates to estimate disease frequency in the general population. Chest. 2000; 117(5, Suppl. 2): 354S–359S.
- Simon MR, Chinchilli VM, Phillips BR, et al. Forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity and FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio in relation to clinical and physiological parameters in asthmatic children with normal FEV1 values. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010; 126(3): 527–534.e1.
- Ciprandi G, Cirillo I. Forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity may be a marker of bronchial impairment in allergic rhinitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011; 127(2): 549; discussion 550–549; discussion 551.
- Cirillo I, Vizzaccaro A, Crimi E. Airway Reactivity and Diving in Healthy and Atopic Subjects. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003; 35(9): 1493–1498.
- Macdiarmid JI. at al. Co-ordinated investigation into the possible long term health effects of diving at work: Research report. Great Britain. Health and Safety Executive, Vol. 230, Sudbury: HSE Books. 2004: 105.
- Skogstad M, Thorsen E, Haldorsen T, et al. Lung function over six years among professional divers. Occup Environ Med. 2002; 59(9): 629–633.
- Parker AL, Abu-Hijleh M, McCool FD. Ratio between forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity and FVC is a determinant of airway reactivity and sensitivity to methacholine. Chest. 2003; 124(1): 63–69.
- Heikki OK. Cold air-provoked respiratory symptoms: the mechanisms and management. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2007; 66(2): 91–100.
