Pulmonary function tests

Pulmonary function tests include spirometry and flow-volume curves, according tot ERS guidelines. Upon arrival, subjects rest for ± 15 minutes after which non-forced spirometry is performed, followed by flow-volume curves. No reversibility testing is performed.¹

Subjects are staged according to GOLD guidelines: a FEV1/FVC < 0.70 classifies a subject as ‘COPD’.²  The ultimate diagnosis ‘COPD’ is based on pulmonary function testing and CT-scanning: when either of the two approaches scores positive for COPD, that subject is labelled as such. Only individuals who score negative on both measurements are declared ‘healthy’.

_{¹ Quanjer PH, Tammeling GJ, Cotes JE, Pedersen OF, Peslin R, Yernault JC. Lung volumes and forced ventilatory flows. Eur Respir J Suppl 1993; 16: 5-40.}

_{² Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Available at: www.goldcopd.com}

More information about the other techniques used:

• CT scan
• Genome wide screening