2002, Number 1
Comparison between clinical spirometers.
Rodríguez LJ, Nóbrega UM, Crespo L, Barreno T
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 17
Page: 12-18
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ABSTRACT
Introduction: The acquisition of a new built-in computer spirometer poses the question of whether its results are reliable or not when evaluating patients with lung disorders. The purchase of a Spiro Card spirometer motivated us to compare it with another one, a Vitalograph Alpha. The main goal was to determine the accuracy of the Spiro Card spirometer, comparing it with the Vitalograph Alpha spirometer, which was taken as reference, and to detect any significant difference in functional spirometer measurements carried out with both devices. Subjects and methods: 80 individuals, healthy and patients, who attended the Lung Function Laboratory at the Physiological Sciences Department from the Universidad de Carabobo were studied. Each individual went through at least 3 maneuvers by each spirometer, with a rest between them. Analysis: The correlation coefficient, precision and concordance were determined for each functional parameter, FVC, FEV1, FEF25-75% and PFR. Results: There was a linear relationship among functional parameters of each device (r2 =0.94 for FVC, 0.96 for FEV1, for FEF25-75% and PFR 0.86). Precision was under 4% only for FEV1, while for FVC it was 6%, for FEF25-75% it was 15% and PFR it was 14%. Analysis of each spirometric parameter at high and low volumes and pulmonary flux revealed no significant differences (z<1.98) for FVC, FEV1 and FEV25-75%, while for PFR the difference was significant. Discussion and conclusions: Present data point out that the measurements performed by both devices are closely related in spite of the limitations of concordance found between FEF25-75% and PFR. This indicates the Spiro Card can be used with no problems. However, this does not mean that two devices can be substituted concerning the performance of functional studies, that is, they cannot be interchanged.REFERENCES