Emphysema often present before abnormal spirometry, particularly in Black men

Emphysema is often present before spirometry findings become abnormal, with disproportionate rates seen in Black men, according to new findings published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
“According to this observational study of Black and white adults in the United States, a substantial proportion of middle-aged adults with ‘normal’ spirometry findings based on race-specific equations have emphysema on CT. This is disproportionately seen among Black men,” Gabrielle Y. Liu, MD, internist in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Northwestern University

Emphysema is often present before spirometry findings become abnormal, with disproportionate rates seen in Black men, according to new findings published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
“According to this observational study of Black and white adults in the United States, a substantial proportion of middle-aged adults with ‘normal’ spirometry findings based on race-specific equations have emphysema on CT. This is disproportionately seen among Black men,” Gabrielle Y. Liu, MD, internist in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Northwestern University