Race-Neutral Lung Function Tests to Reshape Medical and Socioeconomic Landscapes

New guidelines for lung assessments could alter disease diagnoses, disability compensation, and job eligibility for millions.

Black patients may see a 141% increase in nonobstructive lung disorder diagnoses, while white patients may see a 69% decrease.
Disability payments for Black veterans could rise by over $1 billion, while those for white veterans may drop by $500 million.
Asian and Black patients may experience shorter wait times for lung transplants, while Hispanic and white candidates may wait longer.
The new equations could reclassify the lung impairment status of 12.5 million Americans.
Hospitals may need to expand pulmonary function testing capacity to accommodate increased patient volume.