Using Spirometry to Appropriately Diagnose COPD

“Mild” COPD: What Spirometry Conceals!

COPD diagnosis related to different guidelines and spirometry techniques

The aim was to compare the diagnosis of COPD among smokers according to different international guidelines and to compare the outcome when using slow (SVC) and forced vital capacity (FVC). In order to find current smokers a questionnaire was sent to persons who had been on sick leave for more than two weeks. Those who smoked more than 8 cigarettes per day were invited to perform a spirometry. T...

Spirometry in chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD).

Introduction T common criterion recommended for diagnosis of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) is demonstration of “progressive irreversible airway obstruction” on spirometry. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (GOLD) has recommended spirometry as the gold standard for diagnosis of COPD. However, spirometry is not widely available and spirometric test results ...

The value of spirometry and exercise challenge test to diagnose and monitor children with asthma

Asthma is defined as a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways with characteristic symptoms including recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. It may result in abnormalities of ventilator function, which can be assessed by different pulmonary function tests. In this case report, we present a 15-year-old boy with asthma and illustrate the value and limit...

Using quality assured spirometry to support diagnosis

Spirometry Reversibility Asthma Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Guidelines Spirometry is very easy to do, and very easy to get wrong (Martin, 2010; personal communication). Not only is quality assured spirometry dependent on the effort exerted by the patient, and the technical ability of the spirometer operator, but also on the understanding of the results by the person interpreting them....