[Elementary precautions necessary for the validity of ventilatory function measurements with electronic spirometers]

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Chronic bronchitis morbidity is increasing, highlighting the need for early detection.
• Small airway obstruction in early chronic bronchitis may be reversible.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of simple, user-friendly spirometry devices for early chronic bronchitis detection.
• To compare the performance of three devices (Ohio 842 spirograph, Oude Delft expirometer, Chemetron P.F.I.) against a standard (Jaeger spirometer).

Main Methods:

• 165 patients with potential early chronic bronchitis were tested.
• Comparison of readings from Ohio 842 spirograph, Oude Delft expirometer, and Chemetron P.F.I. against a Jaeger spirometer.
• Analysis of agreement between the tested devices and the standard spirometer.

Main Results:

• The Ohio 842 spirograph demonstrated close agreement with the Jaeger spirometer.
• The Oude Delft expirometer and Chemetron P.F.I. showed poor agreement with the Jaeger spirometer.
• Electronic spirometers without graphic recording or calibration presented challenges in error detection.

Conclusions:

• The Ohio 842 spirograph is a reliable tool for early chronic bronchitis screening.
• Simpler spirometry devices require careful evaluation for accuracy in clinical settings.
• Challenges with electronic spirometers include non-linearity, irregular flow, and patient cooperation.