F. Kauffmann et al., VALIDITY OF SUBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF CHANGES IN RESPIRATORY HEALTH-STATUS - A 30 YEAR EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF WORKERS IN PARIS, The European respiratory journal, 10(11), 1997, pp. 2508-2514
The validity of scales used for subjective assessment of health, parti
cularly transitional indices, is under discussion, The aim of the pres
ent study was to assess the concurrent and predictive validity of a si
mple estimate of long-term subjective assessment of respiratory health
changes, A longitudinal study of 915 workers was conducted over 30 yr
s, with both retrospective self-assessment of respiratory health chang
es and objective measurements of spirometric values 12 yrs apart. An a
ssessment of the reason for death during the subsequent 20 yrs was per
formed, Subjective assessment of respiratory deterioration over 12 yrs
was significantly related to both cross-sectional lung function value
s and longitudinal lung function changes (forced expiratory volume in
one second (FEV1) decline), an association which remained after adjust
ment for FEV1 level, It was also related to the same risk factors as d
ecline in FEV1 (smoking, occupational exposure), Self-evaluation of re
spiratory deterioration was significantly predictive of death from all
causes, with the highest (but nonsignificant) rate ratio for respirat
ory causes. Asthmatics exhibited greater long-term variability (object
ive and subjective) than nonasthmatics, Independent of dyspnoea, self-
assessment of respiratory health deterioration was significantly relat
ed to FEV1, Subjective assessment of long-term changes in respiratory
health provides valid information.