John E. Hodgkin

Incidence of metabolic alkalemia in hospitalized patients.

Analysis of 13,430 arterial blood samples demonstrated that metabolic alkalemia was the most common acid-base disturbance encountered in the hospital setting, being present in 51% of patients with abnormal acid-base status. Respiratory alkalemia was encountered in 29%, respiratory acidemia in 27%, and metabolic acidemia in only 12%. Evaluation of those blood gases with metabolic alkalemia, using 95% confidence-limit bands for acid-base disturbances, showed that the metabolic alkalemia was pure in 70% of the cases, mixed with respiratory acidemia in 18%, and combined with respiratory alkalemia in 12%. The adverse effects of alkalemia may be subtle but often significant. Alveolar hypoventilation in response to metabolic alkalemia, without evidence of primary respiratory disease, was more frequent than is generally suspected. This hypoventilation often directly results in hypoxemia, as well as atelectasis with worsened ventilation/perfusion match-up. Alkalemia shifts the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve to the left, increasing hemoglobins affinity for oxygen, thus, limiting oxygen release at the tissue level. The presence of metabolic alkalemia makes it more difficult to wean patients from assisted ventilation. A clearer understanding of the frequency and significance of metabolic alkalemia should lead to more appropriate therapy to prevent or correct this acid-base disturbance and should result in a decreased morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Symptom Effects of Long-Term Cumulative Exposure to Ambient Levels of Total Oxidants and Nitrogen Dioxide in California Seventh-day Adventist Residents

To assess the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease symptoms due to long-term exposure to ambient levels of total oxidants and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), symptoms were ascertained using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) respiratory symptoms questionnaire. A total of 7,445 Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) nonsmokers who were 25 yr of age or older and had resided at least 11 yr in areas of California with high to low photochemical air pollution were included in this study. Cumulative exposures to each pollutant in excess of four thresholds were estimated for each participant, using zip codes for months of residence and interpolated dosages from state air-monitoring stations. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted individually and together for pollutants and included eight covariables, including passive smoking. A statistically significant association with chronic symptoms was seen for total oxidants above 10 pphm (196 mcg/m3) (p less than .004, relative risk of 1.20 for 750 hr/yr). Chronic respiratory disease symptoms were not associated with relatively low NO2 exposure levels in this population. When these pollutant exposures were studied with exposures to total suspended particulates (TSP) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), only TSP exposure above 200 mcg/m3 showed statistical significance (p less than .01). Exposure to TSP is either more strongly associated with symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than the other measured exposures or is the best single surrogate representing the mix of pollutants present.

Applications of a method for setting air quality standards based on epidemiological data.

A method for setting air quality standards for long-term cumulative exposures of a population based on epidemiological studies has been developed. It uses exposure estimates interpolated from monitoring stations to zip code centroids, each month applied to zip code by month residence histories of the population. Two alternative cumulative exposure indices are used--hours in excess of a threshold, and the sum of concentrations above a threshold. The indices are then used with multiple logistic regression models for the health outcome data to form dose response curves for relative risk, adjusting for covariates. These curves are useful for determination of at what exposure amounts and threshold levels, effects which have both statistical and public health significance begin to occur. The method is applied to a ten year follow-up of a sub cohort of 7,343 members of the National Cancer Institute-funded Adventist Health Study. Up to 20 years of residence history was available. Analysis for prevalence of symptoms was conducted for four air pollutants--total oxidants, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and total suspended particulates. For each pollutant, cumulated exposures were calculated above each of five different thresholds. Statistically significant effects were noted for total suspended particulates, total oxidants, sulfur dioxide, past and passive smoking.