Journal List > Tuberc Respir Dis > v.70(3) > 1001592

Park, Lee, Huh, Oh, Lee, Lee, Yoon, Kim, Lee, Park, Kim, Park, Hwang, Jung, Park, Lim, Jung, Kim, Kim, Rhee, Yoon, Kim, Kim, Yoo, and Yoo: Proposal of New Criteria for Assessing Respiratory Impairment

Abstract

Social welfare services for respiratory-disabled persons in Korea are offered based on the respiratory impairment grade, which is determined by 3 clinical parameters; dyspnea, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and arterial oxygen tension. This grading system has several limitations in the objective assessment of respiratory impairment. We reviewed several guidelines for the evaluation of respiratory impairment and relevant articles. Then, we discussed a new grading system with respiratory physicians. Both researchers and respiratory physicians agreed that pulmonary function tests are essential in assessing the severity of respiratory impairment, forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1 and single breath diffusing capacity (DLco) are the primarily recommended tests. In addition, we agreed that arterial blood gas analysis should be reserved for selected patients. In conclusion, we propose a new respiratory impairment grading system utilizing a combination FVC, FEV1 and DLco scores, with more social discussion included.

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Respiratory impairment grading according to Welfare of Disabled Persons Act4
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FEV1: forced vital capacity in 1 second; PaO2: arterial oxygen tension.

Table 2
Respiratory impairment grading according to guidelines of the Korean Academy of Medical Science6
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FVC: forced vital capacity; FEV1: forced vital capacity in 1 second; DLco: diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide; PaO2: arterial oxygen tension; PaCO2: arterial carbon dioxide tension.

Table 3
American Thoracic Society impairment categories, with corresponding description of ability to perform job demands8
trd-70-199-i003

FVC: forced vital capacity; FEV1: forced vital capacity in 1 second; DLco: diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide.

Table 4
American Medical Association classification of respiratory impairment9
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FVC: forced vital capacity; FEV1: forced vital capacity in 1 second; DLco: diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide; VO2max: maximum oxygen consumption; LLN: lower limit of normal.

Table 5
Proposal of new criteria for assessing respiratory impairment
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FVC: forced vital capacity; FEV1: forced vital capacity in 1 second; DLco: diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide.

Notes

All institutions which participated in this study are designated clinical research center for chronic obstructive airway diseases by Ministry of Health and Welfare.

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