Analysis of airway structural parameters in Han Chinese adults: a prospective cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction

Establishing reference ranges for central airway parameters and exploring their influencing factors in Han Chinese non-smoking adults.

Methods

This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on Han Chinese non-smoking adults who underwent chest CT scans at the Tongzhou Campus of Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated with the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine between September 2022 and November 2022. The SYNAPSE 3D image analysis software was utilized, enabling the extraction of critical parameters such as central airway length, airway wall thickness (AWT), airway lumen area (ALA), and subcarinal angle (SCA). Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis and multiple linear regression analysis methods were employed to evaluate the relationship between central airway parameters and age, sex, weight, and height.

Results

The study encompassed 888 Han Chinese non-smoking adults, comprising 456 females and 432 males. Significant sex differences were noted in central airway length, AWT, and ALA, with measurements in males exceeding those in females (p < 0.01) with no significant difference in SCA. Correlation analyses unveiled relationships between central airway parameters and age, sex, weight, and height. During multiple linear regression analyses, no conclusive evidence emerged to demonstrate the independent or combined explanatory or predictive capacity of the aforementioned variables for central airway length and SCA. Although sex has a significant impact on AWT and ALA, its capability in explanation or prediction remains limited. The conclusions drawn from the primary analysis receive reinforcement from the outcomes of sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion

Establishing the distribution range of central airway parameters in non-smoking Han Chinese adults. It observed significant sex differences in these parameters, except for the SCA. However, the study found that the predictive or explanatory power of age, sex, weight, and height for central airway parameters was either limited or non-significant.

Keywords:

• Airway length
• central airways
• reference values
• airway wall thickness
• airway lumen area

Acknowledgements

We also thank OpenAI for granting us access to their language model, ChatGPT, which assisted us in improving the language quality of this paper.

Authors contributions

Liu Yan: Acquisition of data, design of the study, drafting the article, critical revision, and approval of the final version. Teng Jun: Analysis of data, conceived and design of the study, drafting of the article, critical revision, and approval of the final version. Mei Jian: Acquisition of data, read and approved the manuscript. Chen Chao: Collection of data, critical revision, and approval of the final version. Xu Qian-qian: Collection of data and approval of the final version. Zhou Cui: Critical revision and approval of the final version. Deng Kang-li: Critical revision and approved the manuscript. Wang Hong-wu: Design of the study, agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the manuscript in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the manuscript are appropriately investigated and resolved, read, and approved.

Consent for publication

All authors agree to the publication of this article.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Institutional review board statement

The Ethics Committee of Dongzhimen Hospital is Affiliated with the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (Project ID: 2022DZMEC-316-03).

Informed consent statement

All examinees were fully informed of the study and gave their informed written consent before participation. The Declaration of Helsinki conducted this study.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2022 Annual, grant number 2022-JYB-JBZR-029.