Use of Spirometry in Pulmonary Function Evaluation

Spirometry is a safe, quick, and readily available test that can be used in the office, pulmonary physiology laboratory, and at home to evaluate respiratory symptoms. Its primary measurements are the forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁), and their ratio (FEV₁/FVC). Spirometry measurements can be used for the prognosis in certain disease states, in evaluating progression as well as therapeutic response, and in monitoring at risk patients. Here, we review the use of spirometry in diagnosis, screening, and monitoring, and its use in a variety of disease states for evaluating prognosis, therapeutic response, and progression.