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[Early detection of exacerbation of lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis by means of daily spirometry].

UNLABELLED: The clinical course of cystic fibrosis is characterised by pulmonary involvement with mucus retention, chronic pulmonary infection and parenchymal inflammation. Recurrent infectious exacerbations are usually accompanied by a fall in lung volumes. This pilot study investigated whether exacerbations can be detected early by daily spirometry. Ten patients with cystic fibrosis (5 female; 5 male; mean age 24.9 years) performed daily spirometry using a portable transtelephonic spirometer (Spirophone). Infectious exacerbations were diagnosed on clinical grounds and treated without knowledge of the spirometry results. Data of 9 patients recorded over a period of 5-11 months were analysed. One patient was excluded due to non-compliance. A total of 20 infectious exacerbations occurred during the observation period. A fall of at least 20% in one or more of the following parameters was observed in 90% (18/20) of exacerbations: FVC, FEV1, PEF, and FEF25/75. A daily drop in lung volumes of 0.7% to 1.2% was recorded beginning at a median of 33 (20 to 120) days before infectious exacerbations were diagnosed. There was a 2-3% daily improvement in spirometric data under treatment with antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Daily spirometry allows early recognition of pulmonary infectious exacerbations in patients with cystic fibrosis. Daily spirometry may be used as an indicator for early antibiotic treatment.

Adolescent↗

[Pulmonary complications following laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with abnormal spirometry].

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) and the value of preoperative spirometry to predict PPC after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Sixty-four of 1372 patients (8%) showed abnormal spirometry data. One out of 1372 patients developed aspiration pneumonia. The patient had high risk factors for serious PPC such as ASA physical status 4.84 y/o, longer anesthesia duration (230 min), multiple brain infarction and low albuminemia. Thirty to 39% of patients with abnormal spirometry showed less severe PPC such as atelectasis, lung collapse and pleural effusion, and incidence was the similar with normal lung function patients. Postoperative blood gas analysis showed a slight increase in arterial carbon dioxide tension during oxygen therapy. However, none of the patients with abnormal spirometry and less severe PPC developed manifest PPC (pneumonia, respiratory failure). Less severe PPC disappeared within second to third postoperative days. We conclude that laparoscopic intervention significantly reduced the incidence of severe PPC and the preoperative spirometry was not recommended in patients with no pulmonary symptoms.

Aged↗

Development of a simple computer program for spirometry interpretation.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and evaluate a computer program for interpretation of spirometry. METHODOLOGY: The spirometry programme was constructed in Epi Info software using a previously defined algorithm for interpretation. The programme incorporated current American Thoracic Society guidelines on interpretation of spirometry and was based on regression equations for healthy North Indians previously derived by us. The programme was pretested for two months before being put to routine use. RESULTS: Use of this spirometry programme led to consistent interpretation of spirometry results. There was significant saving of time while preparing reports, without any additional expenditure. CONCLUSION: The use of such computer programmes accelerate the reporting of pulmonary function test results at little extra cost, and all interpretations are performed in a consistent fashion.

Female↗

[The rate of airflow limitation among the elderly undergoing spirometry in a university hospital].

The aim of this study was to examine the rate of airflow limitation among the elderly undergoing spirometry prior to surgical operation, and to evaluate whether or not spirometry is useful for the early detection of COPD. A total of 3,086 patients (1,717 men and 1,369 women) ranging in age from 40 to 93 underwent screening spirometry from January to December 2003 in Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital. Among the total population, 2,135 patients (1,188 men and 947 women) were ordered to undergo the spirometry prior to surgical operation, airflow limitation (FEV1/FVC < 70%) was observed in 19.5% (n=417) of the cases and was considerably more frequent in men than in women(27.0%[n=321] vs. 10.1%[n=96]). The rate of FEV1/FVC < 70% in those 2,135 patients increased with age: 6.2%, 9.9%, 19.2%, 32.5% and 34.1% of patients in their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and over, respectively. Among the patients with airflow limitation, 35% of the cases revealed FEV1 > or = 80% predicted; 50%, 50 < or = FEV1 < 80% predicted; 14%, 30 < or = FEV1 < 50% predicted; 1%, FEV1 < 30% predicted. Patients with mild to moderate airflow limitation rarely consulted the pulmonary medicine department. The prevalence of airflow limitation was more frequent among in- and out-patients than in the random sample population. Spirometry prior to surgical operation is useful for the early detection of COPD and these data could be an important source for medical staff seeking a definitive diagnosis of patients revealing airflow limitation.

Adult↗

[Clinical application of portable spirometry in asthma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical applications of portable spirometry in asthma. METHODS: Twenty patients with asthma were recruited from Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Flow-volume loop, simultaneous asthma symptoms, and mood were monitored three times a day for consecutive 14 days. RESULTS: In patients with a normal daytime spirometry, marked decline of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were observed at night and/or in the early morning. A within subject correlation analysis between FEV1, PEF, and asthma symptoms showed that the correlation between symptoms and airway obstruction was found only in seven out of twenty patients (35%). Four patients (20%) reported many symptoms with nearly normal portable spirometry. Accordingly, their symptoms were not correlated with FEV1 and PEF. This group of patients was defined as over-perceivers. On the contrary, another two patients (10%) did not report any symptoms while obvious airways obstruction was recorded by a portable spirometry. These patients were defined as under-perceivers. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic monitoring of flow-volume loop with a portable spirometry is more accurate than routine lung function test in assessment of asthma severity. In addition, combined with simultaneous monitoring of symptoms, it would be of particularly helpful in identifying two specific types of asthma patients, e.g. over-perceivers and under-perceivers.

Adolescent↗

The standard of spirometry in the RSA.

Standards for high-quality lung function testing have not yet been formally adopted in the RSA, despite the increase in the performance of spirometry. A study was undertaken to determine the standard of spirometry in clinical practice in this country. Forty-five spirometer users agreed to participate. Responses to a questionnaire, administered by personal interview, were graded according to the proportion of correct or appropriate answers: completely unsatisfactory less than 33.3%; poor 33.3-66.6%; and satisfactory greater than 66.6%. Only 6 spirometers were regularly calibrated. Knowledge of international standards for spirometry, the basic working mechanism of the spirometer being used and calibration ranged from poor to completely unsatisfactory in most of the practices. Instructions to the patients for performing the manoeuvres were satisfactory, but elevation of the result for acceptability, reproducibility, selection of the best test and diagnosis of a positive bronchodilator response were generally completely unsatisfactory. Only 18 practitioners knew the source of the reference values they used and 5 had proved their validity with a sample. Fourteen of the 45 practitioners were unable to make the correct diagnoses from two typical test results. Of the 45 practitioners, 40 were interested in a course in practical, clinical spirometry. In the light of the predominantly unsatisfactory results obtained in this study, we consider clinical spirometry to be an urgent priority for all levels of medical education.

Clinical Competence↗

[Sensitivity and specificity of multi-frequency oscillation methods, body plethysmography and spirometry in 5-8-year-old asthmatic patients].

We compared specificity and sensitivity of the forced oscillation technique with the standard methods of body plethysmography and spirometry in children suffering from asthma (age 5-8 yrs). We investigated 60 healthy and 66 asthmatic children by forced oscillation, plethysmography and spirometry. Mean FEV1% pred was 99.7 and 82.4% in the healthy and asthmatic subjects, respectively, and mean SRaw was 0.68 and 1.18 kPa*s, respectively. Forced oscillation and plethysmography could be measured in all children, whereas 29% of the investigated children failed to perform valid spirometry. Discriminant analysis was used to compare the optimal classification which could be obtained from the measured data with the clinical one. Fixing specificity to 95%, we computed sensitivities of 66% (forced oscillation), 68% (body plethysmography), and 76% (spirometry). We conclude that the diagnostic value of the three methods in young children with asthma is similar. However, the value of spirometry is limited by cooperation in these young children.

Asthma↗

Effect of incentive spirometry on diaphragmatic function after surgery.

Many of the alterations in lung function that occur after upper abdominal surgery are attributable to reduced diaphragmatic activity. This study was undertaken to determine whether incentive spirometry produces a voluntary activation of diaphragmatic movement in patients with postoperative diaphragmatic dysfunction. Inductance plethysmography was used to measure the tidal volumes of the abdomen and chest in eight women before cholecystectomy and on the first and third postoperative days. In resting patients the relative contribution of the abdominal compartment decreased from 0.520 +/- 0.100 preoperatively to 0.274 +/- 0.265 on postoperative day 1 (p less than 0.01), reflecting the effect of surgery on diaphragmatic function. Inspiratory flow (an index of inspiratory drive) was unaltered by surgery during both resting and incentive spirometry breaths, despite changes in tidal volume. Preoperatively, incentive spirometry increased the tidal volume of the abdominal compartment from 141 +/- 26 ml to 285 +/- 188 ml (p less than 0.005) as a result of increased diaphragmatic movement. This effect was not seen postoperatively; instead, postoperative patients responded to incentive spirometry by increasing the tidal excursion of the chest compartment (158 +/- 37 to 630 +/- 253, p less than 0.005), without any increase in abdominal tidal volume. Thus, incentive spirometry failed to increase diaphragmatic movement in postoperative patients.

Abdomen↗

Medical screening using periodic spirometry for detection of chronic lung disease.

Approximately half of a worker population may benefit from the addition of a longitudinal comparison of their spirometry results, over only using annual comparisons with a cross-sectional LLN. The ATS recommendation of 15% for year-to-year changes appears to be essentially equivalent to a longitudinal LLN method based on the SEE. Therefore, a practical method for longitudinal interpretations is to establish a baseline value for a worker's FEV1 through several initial spirometric examinations. The FEV1 longitudinal LLN is calculated by taking 85% of this baseline value minus the expected decline over the time period based on the individual's age (e.g., for individuals older than 35 years at their initial examination, one approach is to use 30 mL/year times the number of years of follow-up). However, before any final classification is rendered, the data should be reviewed for stability. This analysis demonstrates that longitudinal spirometry adds sensitivity to spirometry screening efforts. The spirometry examinations should probably be performed annually in order to detect survey biases and determine the stability of the FEV1 measurements. If spirometry results indicate that someone has crossed either the longitudinal or the cross-sectional LLN, intervention activities should be initiated for that individual. As new data and studies become available, these suggested procedures will need to be revised-particularly estimates for the expected annual decline in FEV1.

Bias↗

Instrumentation for spirometry.

In addition to improvements in spirometry instrumentation, the availability and quality of mechanical pump-testing equipment have also improved. These devices have largely relied on the ATS 24 standard waveforms and appear to simulate human FVC maneuvers reasonably well, at least with respect to testing using room air. Testing using mechanical pumps filled with heated and humidified air to better simulate the human FVC maneuver is still evolving. With the availability of these testing devices, many problems in both spirometric hardware and software can be identified and corrected. Perhaps the two most significant emerging advancements in spirometry instrumentation are the automated test acceptability and reproducibility assessments with immediate feedback to the technician and the development of small portable spirometers. At least two major studies (LHS8 and NHANES12) have described a second generation of comprehensive on-line assessment of test quality with immediate feedback to the spirometry technician. The use of quality assessment software appears to significantly improve the quality of the spirometry data through feedback to technicians. Spirometry hardware is also advancing as several hand-held devices are being developed to measure not only peak flow but also FEV1, FVC, and other parameters. These battery-powered portable spirometers will continue to decrease in size and cost and may eventually displace the hand-held peak flow meters in current use.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗

Spirometry.

Spirometry is the most widely used pulmonary function test. It is used for diagnosis and monitoring in a wide variety of obstructive and restrictive disease patterns. Spirometry is the primary measure in determining disability due to pulmonary disease, and is widely applied in the evaluation of bronchodilator response and airway hyperreactivity. A wide variety of spirometry equipment is currently available, from small portable units to large laboratory systems capable of multiple functions. Most spirometers rely heavily on computerization, which makes them easy to use, but require training and experience on the part of the user. Valid spirometry demands equipment that conforms to recommended standards, and performance of the tests to meet criteria for acceptability and reproducibility. Interpretation of spirometry requires attention to these standards and to careful selection of reference values.

Equipment Design↗

The necessity for spirometry in the primary care management of COPD.

Implementation of spirometry in the primary care setting is controversial. Spirometry allows a unique non-invasive look into the functioning of the lungs, which can be both medically informative and of practical value. Respiratory complaints are among the most prevalent in primary care, while smoking rates remain globally high, illustrating the need for proper tools to investigate the possible causes of chronic pulmonary symptoms. Smoking cessation programs and disease management programs are the preferred treatment strategies for COPD; these rely on a valid spirometric diagnosis, as promoted by international COPD guidelines. In addition, involving the patient in treatment plans and explaining the detrimental effects of smoking can be greatly facilitated by the visual impact of a flow-volume curve, have promoted the use of spirometry. While there are difficulties in implementation of spirometry in primary care. Provided that quality standards of performance and training are sufficiently met, evidence suggests that spirometry is a valid, feasible and interpretable diagnostic tool in a primary care setting. COPD is a growing problem for society, which should not be underestimated, and with sufficient funding, adequate training and motivated healthcare workers, there is no good reason why spirometric testing cannot be widely implemented.

Journal Article↗

A comparison of spirometry in general practice and a pulmonary function laboratory.

AIMS: : To compare the results of spirometry testing in primary care with those obtained at a pulmonary function laboratory and to explore whether differences were due to technique or equipment. METHODS: : Patients on the waiting list for spirometry in six participating practices had the test performed in their own practice and at the pulmonary function laboratory (PFL). RESULTS: : A total of 45 patients had spirometry performed at both locations. Practice nurses underestimated FEV(1) and FVC. The mean difference in FEV(1) was 0.109litres (6.69%, 95% CI 2.88, 9.51) compared with a bellows spirometer, and 0.07litres (6.2% 95% CI 0.89, 8.25) when the same type of spirometer was used. The mean difference in FVC was 0.413litres (15.0% 95% CI 9.3, 20.6) when compared with bellows, and 0.267litres (10.2% 95% CI 4.1, 16.2) when the same type of spirometer was used. All differences were statistically significant (p<0.05, paired t test). Agreement on categorization of COPD was moderate (Kappa 0.46) with practice nurses overestimating severity. Compared to PFL categorisation for the presence or absence of COPD using bellows spirometers, the sensitivity of practice nurse spirometry was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.76, 0.99) and specificity 0.65 (95% CI: 0.38, 0.86). CONCLUSION: : Spirometry results obtained by practice nurses were lower than those obtained in a PFL, leading to over-diagnosis of COPD severity.

Journal Article↗

The "worth" of routine spirometry in a cystic fibrosis clinic.

In our cystic fibrosis clinic, all patients older than 6 years perform spirometry at each visit just before being seen by the health care team. Upon review, we determined that our perceived rationale for this practice was that the medical history fails to detect deterioration in a sizable minority of patients whose pulmonary decline can be detected by spirometry. Furthermore, the literature and our own experience indicates that physical examination frequently will not detect changes in pulmonary status until the changes are advanced. As part of an ongoing quality/cost assessment, we decided to challenge our rationale for performing routine spirometry. Using standard methodology, we developed a six-item Likert style questionnaire, the purpose of which was to assess perceived changes in pulmonary symptoms since the last clinic visit. The questionnaire had an acceptable degree of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92), although the question about sputum production showed the least correlation with responses to other items. We administered the questionnaire to 103 consecutive different patients and examined the association between reported changes in symptoms and actual changes in spirometric outcomes. Overall, there was a statistically significant, but clinically weak association between symptom scores and change in FEV1, r2 = 0.16, P < 0.001. Twenty-three patients had a decline in FEV1 of > or = 10% from one clinic visit to the next. Depending on the method used to place symptom scores into categories indicating that pulmonary symptoms were "worse," "same," or "better" than at the last clinic visit, 40-60% of these 23 patients indicated they felt the "same" or "better." We conclude that spirometry is a justifiable part of all clinic visits for patients with cystic fibrosis, assuming that one would want to detect and treat declines in pulmonary status before they become advanced.

Cystic Fibrosis↗

Effect of beta2-agonist treatment and spirometry on exhaled nitric oxide in healthy children and children with asthma.

We set out to determine the effect of spirometry and bronchodilator therapy on exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)) values in children. We hypothesized that there will be no difference on FE(NO) values pre- and postspirometry and following bronchodilator therapy. Sixteen children [(mean = 14.4 +/- 1.2 years; range, 12-18 years; healthy controls (n = 6); asthmatics on inhaled steroids (n = 5); and asthmatics on no steroids (n = 5)] had exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)) measurements on 4 consecutive days as follows: pre- and postspirometry (day 1); pre- and postalbuterol metered dose inhaler (MDI) therapy (day 2); pre- and postspirometry and albuterol MDI therapy (day 3); and pre- and postspirometry and placebo MDI (day 4). FE(NO) was measured with a chemiluminescence analyzer, using the single vital capacity exhalation technique at an exhalation flow of 50 mL/sec. There were no statistically significant differences in FE(NO) values pre- and poststudy maneuvers under all experimental conditions in healthy children. However, in healthy children, clinically relevant (>10%) differences from baseline were observed on day 1 (3-18 min) and day 4 at 18 min. In children with asthma, FE(NO) values increased significantly by 11-19% from pretreatment levels at 8 and 18 min, postbronchodilator on day 2, and 12-17% at 8 and 18 min post bronchodilator and spirometry on day 3. Spirometry and treatment with a placebo (day 4) resulted in a decrease in FE(NO) values by 11% at 3 min postbaseline in patients on inhaled steroids. The changes observed were similar in children on vs. off inhaled steroids, and also in well-controlled vs. poorly controlled asthma. We conclude that FE(NO) values should be obtained consistently either pre- and at a specific time postalbuterol treatment or spirometry. Alternatively, changes in FE(NO) values should be interpreted in relationship to the timing of these maneuvers.

Adolescent↗

Use of an open access spirometry service by general practitioners.

AIMS: To understand better which patients with which diagnoses or suspected diagnoses are referred for spirometry in primary care, and to assess whether all such referrals are appropriate. METHODS: 200 consecutive patient referrals to an open access spirometry service from ten local general practices were evaluated by perusing the request forms, and analysis of the spirometry results and the report sent to the general practitioner (GP). RESULTS: 51% of all referrals had suspected or stated COPD, but airway obstruction was demonstrated in only 53% of cases. A minority had a degree of reversibility which suggested an additional asthma component at least. Airway obstruction was rarely demonstrated in patients referred with stated or suspected asthma. 117 patients were referred with stated or suspected airway disease but had no evidence of airway narrowing on testing. 14.5% of these had an unexpected small lung (restrictive) disorder. Six of these had a BMI of more than 30. CONCLUSION: Most referrals with stated or suspected COPD were highly appropriate since spirometry is required in order to establish the correct diagnosis. Referral of patients with suspected asthma is less likely to be helpful, and a period of home peak flow monitoring may be more useful. Restrictive disorders can be confused with airway disorders, and obesity may be underestimated as a cause of breathlessness.

Family Practice↗

Chronic respiratory symptoms, spirometry and knowledge of COPD among general population.

RATIONALE: Infradiagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be related to the lack of knowledge about the disease and/or the scarce use of diagnostic procedures. This study analyses the frequency of respiratory symptoms and the knowledge about COPD in the general population, together with the use of spirometry in individuals at risk of COPD. POPULATION AND METHOD: A telephone survey was carried out in 6758 subjects older than 40 years, stratified by age, habitat (urban or rural) and region, screened by random-digit dialling. RESULTS: Up to 24% reported having at least one chronic respiratory symptom and 20.9% had a self-reported respiratory diagnosis. A total of 19.2% were active smokers and 40% had never tried to quit. Only 60% of the individuals with chronic symptoms had consulted a physician and, of them, only 45% had undergone spirometry. Spirometry was mentioned more frequently by subjects attended by pulmonologists than by GPs (67.6 vs. 28.6%; P<0.001). The term COPD was identified only by 8.6% of the participants. CONCLUSIONS: Many individuals with respiratory symptoms do not request medical attention and do not attempt to quit smoking. There is a lack of knowledge about COPD. Physicians should more actively inform about the disease and increase the use of spirometry for early detection.

Aged↗

Effects of high-dose ipratropium bromide and oral aminophylline on spirometry and exercise tolerance in COPD.

Exercise tolerance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients treated with oral aminophylline may be different from those treated with high-dose inhaled ipratropium bromide. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of therapeutic doses of oral aminophylline with high-dose ipratropium bromide on spirometry and exercise tolerance. The study was conducted on three consecutive days in a double-blind, randomized, crossover fashion. Baseline studies obtained on each study day included vital signs, simple spirometry and a symptom-limited maximal cardiopulmonary stress test, after which patients received one of the following treatments on each day: Treatment 1, inhaled ipratropium (total dose of 144 micrograms) with placebo tablets; Treatment 2, inhaled placebo with oral aminophylline (400 mg); Treatment 3, inhaled placebo and placebo tablets. Simple spirometry was repeated at 60 and 120 min after baseline. Vital signs and cardiopulmonary stress testing was repeated at 120 min. Eighteen patients were enrolled in the study, and 17 of these completed the study. There was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in both forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), from 0.75 (0.21) to 0.92 (0.3), and forced vital capacity (FVC), from 1.8 (0.79) to 2.11 (0.84), with high-dose ipratropium despite prior beta-agonist therapy. Lack of improvement in exercise capacity was noted with ipratropium despite improvement in spirometry. These results suggest that elderly patients with severe COPD may have exercise limitation that is not directly dependent on severity of airflow obstruction. Ipratropium bromide and aminophylline demonstrated no acute effects on exercise capacity.

Administration, Oral↗