• Chuiyong Pak, Clayton T Cowl, Jin Hyoung Kim, Byung Ju Kang, Taehoon Lee, Yangjin Jegal, Seung Won Ra, and Yangho Kim.
• Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
• J. Korean Med. Sci. 2022 Nov 14; 37 (44): e319e319.

BackgroundHumidifier disinfectant-related lung injury (HDLI) is a severe form of toxic inhalational pulmonary parenchymal damage found in residents of South Korea previously exposed to specific guanidine-based compounds present in humidifier disinfectants (HD). HD-associated asthma (HDA), which is similar to irritant-induced asthma, has been recognized in victims with asthma-like symptoms and is probably caused by airway injury. In this study, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in individuals with HDA was compared to that in individuals with pre-existing asthma without HD exposure.MethodsWe retrospectively compared data, including DLCO values, of 70 patients with HDA with that of 79 patients having pre-existing asthma without any known exposure to HD (controls). Multiple linear regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed to confirm the association between HD exposure and DLCO after controlling for confounding factors. The correlation between DLCO and several indicators related to HD exposure was evaluated in patients with HDA.ResultThe mean DLCO was significantly lower in the HDA group than in the control group (81.9% vs. 88.6%; P = 0.021). The mean DLCO of asthma patients with definite HD exposure was significantly lower than that of asthma patients with lesser exposure (P for trend = 0.002). In multivariable regression models, DLCO in the HDA group decreased by 5.8%, and patients with HDA were 2.1-fold more likely to have a lower DLCO than the controls. Pathway analysis showed that exposure to HD directly affected DLCO values and indirectly affected its measurement through a decrease in the forced vital capacity (FVC). Correlation analysis indicated a significant inverse correlation between DLCO% and cumulative HD exposure time.ConclusionDLCO was lower in patients with HDA than in asthma patients without HD exposure, and decreased FVC partially mediated this effect. Therefore, monitoring the DLCO may be useful for early diagnosis of HDA in patients with asthma symptoms and history of HD exposure.© 2022 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.

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