FEV<sub> 6</sub> as screening tool in spirometric diagnosis of obstructive airway disease

<b>Context: </b> The use of spirometry is currently limited to the diagnosis of obstructive airway disease for tertiary centers mainly because of the unmet need for technical expertise and funding. Use in primary care asks for a simpler and cost-effective screening tool for obstructive a...

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Main Authors: Malolan P, Acharya Vishak, Unnikrishnan B
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2010-01-01
Series:Lung India
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.lungindia.com/article.asp?issn=0970-2113;year=2010;volume=27;issue=2;spage=63;epage=65;aulast=Malolan
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author Malolan P
Acharya Vishak
Unnikrishnan B
author_facet Malolan P
Acharya Vishak
Unnikrishnan B
author_sort Malolan P
collection DOAJ
description <b>Context: </b> The use of spirometry is currently limited to the diagnosis of obstructive airway disease for tertiary centers mainly because of the unmet need for technical expertise and funding. Use in primary care asks for a simpler and cost-effective screening tool for obstructive airway disease. <b> Aim: </b> To estimate the efficacy of FEV<sub> 6 </sub> against the current standard of FVC in the spirometric diagnosis of obstructive airway disease. <b> Setting and Design: </b> The Pulmonary Function Laboratory of a tertiary care hospital in Coastal South India. It was a descriptive study. <b> Materials and Methods: </b> We analyzed 150 serial patients on ATS standardized spirometers. The patients were classified into normal subjects and those with airway obstruction, further categorized as mild, moderate and severe and those with mixed defect. Those with obstruction were also classified as having reversible and irreversible defects. <b> Statistical Analysis: </b> Data was analyzed using SPSS Software (v.11.5), statistical test ANOVA and Pearson correlation was done and P less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. <b> Results: </b> FVC and FEV<sub> 6</sub> showed a linear correlation in all subjects. The difference in means was statistically significant in all subjects. The sensitivity and specificity of FEV<sub> 1</sub> /FEV<sub> 6</sub> in comparison to FEV<sub> 1</sub> /FVC were both found to be 100&#x0025;. <b> Conclusion: </b> FEV<sub> 6</sub> is an excellent screening tool in the diagnosis of airway obstruction but, there is a necessity for further research to confirm our findings. There is also a need for reference values in an Indian setting to find out the efficiency of this new parameter. Our sample size is relatively small and comprises of a very high proportion (70&#x0025;) of subjects with airway obstruction and so our results may not be applicable for use in general population.
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spelling doaj.art-fcf0368942a548db8016d8ce06a683452022-12-22T01:06:13ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsLung India0970-21130974-598X2010-01-012726365FEV<sub> 6</sub> as screening tool in spirometric diagnosis of obstructive airway diseaseMalolan PAcharya VishakUnnikrishnan B<b>Context: </b> The use of spirometry is currently limited to the diagnosis of obstructive airway disease for tertiary centers mainly because of the unmet need for technical expertise and funding. Use in primary care asks for a simpler and cost-effective screening tool for obstructive airway disease. <b> Aim: </b> To estimate the efficacy of FEV<sub> 6 </sub> against the current standard of FVC in the spirometric diagnosis of obstructive airway disease. <b> Setting and Design: </b> The Pulmonary Function Laboratory of a tertiary care hospital in Coastal South India. It was a descriptive study. <b> Materials and Methods: </b> We analyzed 150 serial patients on ATS standardized spirometers. The patients were classified into normal subjects and those with airway obstruction, further categorized as mild, moderate and severe and those with mixed defect. Those with obstruction were also classified as having reversible and irreversible defects. <b> Statistical Analysis: </b> Data was analyzed using SPSS Software (v.11.5), statistical test ANOVA and Pearson correlation was done and P less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. <b> Results: </b> FVC and FEV<sub> 6</sub> showed a linear correlation in all subjects. The difference in means was statistically significant in all subjects. The sensitivity and specificity of FEV<sub> 1</sub> /FEV<sub> 6</sub> in comparison to FEV<sub> 1</sub> /FVC were both found to be 100&#x0025;. <b> Conclusion: </b> FEV<sub> 6</sub> is an excellent screening tool in the diagnosis of airway obstruction but, there is a necessity for further research to confirm our findings. There is also a need for reference values in an Indian setting to find out the efficiency of this new parameter. Our sample size is relatively small and comprises of a very high proportion (70&#x0025;) of subjects with airway obstruction and so our results may not be applicable for use in general population.http://www.lungindia.com/article.asp?issn=0970-2113;year=2010;volume=27;issue=2;spage=63;epage=65;aulast=MalolanForced vital capacityforced expiratory maneuver to six-second durationobstructive airway diseasespirometry
spellingShingle Malolan P
Acharya Vishak
Unnikrishnan B
FEV<sub> 6</sub> as screening tool in spirometric diagnosis of obstructive airway disease
Lung India
Forced vital capacity
forced expiratory maneuver to six-second duration
obstructive airway disease
spirometry
title FEV<sub> 6</sub> as screening tool in spirometric diagnosis of obstructive airway disease
title_full FEV<sub> 6</sub> as screening tool in spirometric diagnosis of obstructive airway disease
title_fullStr FEV<sub> 6</sub> as screening tool in spirometric diagnosis of obstructive airway disease
title_full_unstemmed FEV<sub> 6</sub> as screening tool in spirometric diagnosis of obstructive airway disease
title_short FEV<sub> 6</sub> as screening tool in spirometric diagnosis of obstructive airway disease
title_sort fev sub 6 sub as screening tool in spirometric diagnosis of obstructive airway disease
topic Forced vital capacity
forced expiratory maneuver to six-second duration
obstructive airway disease
spirometry
url http://www.lungindia.com/article.asp?issn=0970-2113;year=2010;volume=27;issue=2;spage=63;epage=65;aulast=Malolan
work_keys_str_mv AT malolanp fevsub6subasscreeningtoolinspirometricdiagnosisofobstructiveairwaydisease
AT acharyavishak fevsub6subasscreeningtoolinspirometricdiagnosisofobstructiveairwaydisease
AT unnikrishnanb fevsub6subasscreeningtoolinspirometricdiagnosisofobstructiveairwaydisease