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[Assessment of functional respiratory deficit]
Bulletin Europeen De Physiopathologie Respiratoire
|January 1, 1983
Summary
Assessing respiratory impairment requires standardized methods. A proposed 3-category system using simple functional tests and blood gas analysis can improve accuracy and international comparability for work capacity evaluations.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Inconsistent terminology for physical limitations causes confusion in assessing work capacity post-illness.
- Doctor's assessment of respiratory impairment differs from legal decisions on work resumption.
- Previous efforts to standardize respiratory impairment assessment have been ongoing for two decades.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a standardized classification for respiratory impairment assessment.
- To facilitate easier comparison of data among healthcare professionals.
- To establish an international scale for evaluating respiratory impairment and work capacity.
Main Methods:
- A 3-category classification based on simple functional examinations proposed by a SEPCR working group.
- Emphasis on objective tests like blood gas analysis and cardio-respiratory responses during exercise.
- Consideration of clinical data and a short walking test as complementary evaluation elements.
Main Results:
- A proposed grading system aims to simplify and standardize respiratory impairment assessment.
- Blood gas examination is highlighted as crucial due to its independence from patient collaboration and morphology.
- Exercise testing, including short walking tests, provides valuable data for assessment.
Conclusions:
- Standardized assessment of respiratory impairment is essential for consistent evaluation of work capacity.
- A unified international scale based on simple, objective tests is needed.
- Clinical data and objective functional tests, including exercise responses, are vital for accurate assessment.