Office Spirometry for Lung Health Assessment in Adults : A Consensus Statement From the National Lung Health Education Program

摘要

COPD is easily detected in its preclinical phase using spirometry, and successful smokingncessation (a cost-effective intervention) prevents further disease progression. This consensusnstatement recommends the widespread use of office spirometry by primary-care providers fornpatients > 45 years old who smoke cigarettes. Discussion of the spirometry results with currentnsmokers should be accompanied by strong advice to quit smoking and referral to local smokingncessation resources. Spirometry also is recommended for patients with respiratory symptomsnsuch as chronic cough, episodic wheezing, and exertional dyspnea in order to detect airwaysnobstruction due to asthma or COPD.nAlthough diagnostic-quality spirometry may be used to detect COPD, we recommend thendevelopment, validation, and implementation of a new type of spirometry—office spirometry—nfor this purpose in the primary-care setting. In order to encourage the widespread use of officenspirometers, their specifications differ somewhat from those for diagnostic spirometers, allowingnlower instrument cost, smaller size, less effort to perform the test, improved ease of calibrationnchecks, and an improved quality-assurance program.