Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Multicenter Study
. 2015 Jul 22;16(1):88.
doi: 10.1186/s12931-015-0252-0.

Airways resistance and specific conductance for the diagnosis of obstructive airways diseases

Marko Topalovic  1 , Eric Derom  2 , Christian R Osadnik  3   4   5   6 , Thierry Troosters  1   3 , Marc Decramer  1 , Wim Janssens  7 ; Belgian Pulmonary Function Study Investigators
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Airways resistance and specific conductance for the diagnosis of obstructive airways diseases

Marko Topalovic et al. Respir Res. .

Abstract

Background: Airway resistance (RAW) and specific airway conductance (sGAW) are measures that reflect the patency of airways. Little is known of the variability of these measures between different lung diseases. This study investigated the contribution of RAW and sGAW to a diagnosis of obstructive airways disease and their role in differentiating asthma from COPD.

Methods: 976 subjects admitted for the first time to a pulmonary practice in Belgium were included. Clinical diagnoses were based on complete pulmonary function tests and supported by investigations of physicians' discretion. 651 subjects had a final diagnosis of obstructive diseases, 168 had another respiratory disease and 157 subjects had no respiratory disease (healthy controls).

Results: RAW and sGAW were significantly different (p < 0.0001) between obstructive and other groups. Abnormal RAW and sGAW were found in 39 % and 18 % of the population, respectively, in which 81 % and 90 % had diagnosed airway obstruction. Multiple regression revealed sGAW to be a significant and independent predictor of an obstructive disorder. To differentiate asthma from COPD, RAW was found to be more relevant and statistically significant. In asthma patients with normal FEV1/FVC ratio, both RAW and sGAW were more specific than sensitive diagnostic tests in differentiating asthma from healthy subjects.

Conclusions: RAW and sGAW are significant factors that contribute to the diagnosis and differentiation of obstructive airways diseases.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Comparison of RAW and sGAW disturbance within each group of diseases and specific obstructive disease. Each panel is divided into three sections indicating group of diseases and level of disturbance of parameters within each group. Obstructive group is additionally divided into three subsections representing specific obstructive diseases. Panels a and c/ RAW and sGAW using standard normality limit for disturbance (>150 %, < 50 % of predicted values); Panels b and d/ RAW and sGAW using statistically drawn limits of healthy subgroup for disturbance; Disturbance is indicated with the cross hatch in the figure; Data from N = 976 (RAW) and N = 778 (sGAW) subjects, respectively
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Coates AL, Peslin R, Rodenstein D, Stocks J. Measurement of lung volumes by plethysmography. Eur Respir J. 1997;10:1415–1427. doi: 10.1183/09031936.97.10061415. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Pellegrino R, Viegi G, Brusasco V, Crapo RO, Burgos F, Casaburi R, Coates A, van der Grinten CP, Gustafsson P, Hankinson J, et al. Interpretative strategies for lung function tests. Eur Respir J. 2005;26:948–968. doi: 10.1183/09031936.05.00035205. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Dubois AB, Botelho SY, Comroe JH., Jr A new method for measuring airway resistance in man using a body plethysmograph: values in normal subjects and in patients with respiratory disease. J Clin Invest. 1956;35:327–335. doi: 10.1172/JCI103282. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Criee CP, Sorichter S, Smith HJ, Kardos P, Merget R, Heise D, Berdel D, Kohler D, Magnussen H, Marek W, et al. Body plethysmography--its principles and clinical use. Respir Med. 2011;105:959–971. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2011.02.006. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Stocks J, Godfrey S, Beardsmore C, Bar-Yishay E, Castile R. Plethysmographic measurements of lung volume and airway resistance. ERS/ATS Task Force on Standards for Infant Respiratory Function Testing. European Respiratory Society/ American Thoracic Society. Eur Respir J. 2001;17:302–312. doi: 10.1183/09031936.01.17203020. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types