Interpreting screening questionnaires: specific respiratory symptoms and their relationship to objective test results.

Abstract

To better delineate the relationship between responses to screening respiratory symptom questionnaires and various pulmonary function test results. Spirometry, methacholine challenge, standardized questionnaires, smoking, medical, and work histories were recorded at initial and 5-year follow-up surveys among 411 participants. Percent-predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (ppFEV1), 5-year FEV1 decline, and proportion of methacholine responders (% hyper-responders) were compared with questionnaire responses utilizing generalized estimating equations modeling and analysis of variance. Significant associations were found between ppFEV1 and cough, phlegm, dyspnea, or ever wheezing; between greater percentage of hyper-responders and dyspnea with wheezing, ever/persistent wheezing, or history of asthma/hay fever; and between accelerated FEV1 decline and new onset dyspnea with wheezing, phlegm, or persistent wheeze. Particular respiratory symptoms reported on screening questionnaires are associated with specific physiologic abnormalities, enhancing questionnaire utility in workplace health surveillance.