From the Guidelines
Spirometry is a crucial pulmonary function test that measures lung function by assessing the amount and rate of air inhaled and exhaled, and is essential for diagnosing and monitoring conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). During the test, a patient breathes into a mouthpiece connected to a spirometer, which records the amount and rate of air flowing in and out of the lungs 1. The test typically requires a deep breath and then exhaling as hard and fast as possible for several seconds, measuring values such as forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) to determine if airways are narrowed or if there's another issue affecting breathing 1. Some key points about spirometry include:
- It is a noninvasive and readily available test that can be performed in any healthcare setting 1
- Good-quality spirometry is possible with proper training and equipment, and all healthcare workers who care for patients with COPD should have access to spirometry 1
- A post-bronchodilator fixed ratio of FEV1/FVC less than 0.70 is the spirometric criterion for airflow limitation, although this criterion may result in more frequent diagnosis of COPD in the elderly and less frequent diagnosis in adults younger than 45 years 1
- Spirometry is essential for monitoring lung function over time and evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for respiratory conditions, and can help identify symptomatic patients with airflow obstruction who may benefit from pharmacotherapy 1. Overall, spirometry is a valuable tool for diagnosing and managing respiratory conditions, and its use should be based on the individual patient's needs and medical history, as recommended by the most recent and highest quality studies 1.
From the Research
What is Spirometry
- Spirometry is a physiological test that measures individual inhalation and exhalation volumes of air as a function of time 2
- It is used to detect or assess the extent of ventilatory disorders, and its performance and evaluation should be among the basic skills of pulmonologists, internists, and other physicians 3
- Spirometry is a powerful tool that can be used to detect, follow, and manage patients with lung disorders, and technology advancements have made it more reliable and simple to incorporate into a routine office visit 4
How Spirometry Works
- Spirometry measures the maximum amount of air that a patient can inhale and exhale, and acceptable testing needs to be conducted three times by an acceptable and reproducible method 5
- The test should be repeated up to eight times until the results of three tests meet the criteria of reproducibility 5
- Spirometric measurements of lung function are vital signs that can alert physicians to patients' additional risk of developing chronic lung disease and to the need for interventions that prevent or forestall morbidity and mortality 6
Importance of Spirometry
- Spirometry is an important tool for monitoring patients' response to therapy in a number of disorders, such as asthma 6
- It is also used to diagnose and evaluate asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by measuring reversibility with the use of an inhaled bronchodilator 5
- Spirometry should be performed under standardized conditions and accurately and clearly assessed to enable answering clinical questions 3