Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease ( COPD ): Spirometry

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a prevalent and debilitating condition characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities. Typically, COPD is considered in the clinical setting when patients present with symptoms such as dyspnea, chronic cough, sputum production, and when there is a history of exposure to risk factors, notably smoking^[1,2]. The definitive diagnosis of COPD requires the use of spirometry, a critical diagnostic tool that measures the volume and flow of air that can be inhaled and exhaled. Spirometry is essential for confirming the presence of chronic obstruction and is characterized by a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio of less than 0.70

Despite the established role of spirometry in diagnosing COPD, a significant underutilization of this diagnostic method has been observed in primary care settings. Studies across various countries have highlighted the substantial underuse of spirometry in the initial assessment of patients with suspected COPD. This gap in practice leads to potential over- and underdiagnosis, contributing to suboptimal care for COPD patients. The ramifications of underdiagnosis are profound; estimates from the 1990s indicated that undiagnosed cases of COPD ranged from 66% in the...