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Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Conducting Respiratory Oscillometry in an Outpatient Setting
Published on: April 8, 2022
Role of impulse oscillometry in understanding the changes in physiomechanics of respiratory system in diffuse
Syed Zulkharnain Tousheed1, Thilaka Vijayan1, B V Murali Mohan1
1Department of Pulmonology and Internal Medicine, Mazumdar Shaw Medical Center, Narayana Hrudayalaya Limited, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Background:
Impulse oscillometry (IOS) parameters such as resistance, reactance and Ax are extensively studied and shown to be useful in the diagnosis of airway diseases. However, the role of these parameters in diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLDs) are yet to be defined clearly. Our study looked into the difference in IOS parameters in patients with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) and patients with non-UIP.
Methods:
Clinico-radiologically diagnosed DPLD patients by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) were subjected to perform IOS. We followed the IOS protocol proposed by European Respiratory Society.
Results:
This study included 73 (44 males and 29 females) patients, the mean age was 55.84 ± 13.72 years. The mean X5 (-0.220 ± 0.129 vs. -0.148 ± 0.080; p = 0.010) & Ax (-1.957 ± 1.224 vs. -1.148 ± 0.684; p = 0.004) values of non-UIP group population was more negative as compared to UIP. The ΔX5 (0.064 ± 0.0.085 vs. -0.017 ± 0.158; p = 0.040) and ΔAx (0.014 ± 0.881 vs. -0.626 ± -1.301; p = 0.020) values were more negative in non-UIP than in UIP group. The magnitude of expiratory ×5 and Ax was higher in non-UIP pattern of ILDs when compared to UIP pattern of ILDs. Delta X5 and Delta Ax both were positive in UIP while in non-UIP it was negative.
Conclusion:
IOS is a promising that offers a better understanding of pathomechanics of different DPLD patterns.
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