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(Chest. 2005;128:224-228.)
© 2005 American College of Chest Physicians

Large Lungs in Divers*

Natural Selection or a Training Effect?

Yochai Adir, MD; Avi Shupak, MD; Arie Laor, MD and Daniel Weiler-Ravell, MD, FCCP

* From the Israel Naval Medical Institute (Drs. Adir and Shupak), Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps, the Department of Internal Medicine (Dr. Laor), and the Division of Respiratory Physiology and Chest Disease (Dr. Weiler-Ravell), Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.

Correspondence to: Yochai Adir, MD, Israel Naval Medical Institute, PO Box 8040, 31 080 Haifa, Israel; e-mail: adir-sh{at}zahav.net.il

Background: Normal spirometry is required for medical clearance of professional divers in many countries. Divers frequently have unusually large lung volumes associated with a low ratio of FEV1 to FVC (FEV1%), suggestive of obstructive airways disease. We retrospectively analyzed the records of divers in the Israeli Navy with a low FEV1% who fulfilled the criteria for large lungs, to determine whether this might be the effect of training or natural selection. We also investigated changes in pulmonary function in relation to diving experience.

Methods: A total of 171 divers with FEV1% < 80% on simple spirometry were evaluated. We conducted a retrospective analysis of lung function data for those subjects who met the criteria for large lungs.

Results: One hundred nine of 171 divers with low FEV1% met the criteria for large lungs and were included in the study. Their average age was 25 years (range, 18 to 44 years), and their mean diving experience was 7 years (range, 0 to 26 years). No difference was found in FVC values between experienced and inexperienced divers. The mean forced expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity was significantly reduced in the most experienced group compared with the novice or less experienced divers. No difference was found in the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide between experienced and inexperienced divers.

Conclusions: We suggest that large lungs may represent part of the natural selection for diving, rather than a training effect. Prolonged diving experience may result in the development of small airways disease.

Key Words: diving • large lungs • long-term effects






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