Novel App-Based Portable Spirometer for the Early Detection of COPD
Ching-Hsiung Lin,
Shih-Lung Cheng,
Hao-Chien Wang,
Wu-Huei Hsu,
Kang-Yun Lee,
Diahn-Warng Perng,
Hen-I. Lin,
Ming-Shian Lin,
Jong-Rung Tsai,
Chin-Chou Wang,
Sheng-Hao Lin,
Cheng-Yi Wang,
Chiung-Zuei Chen,
Tsung-Ming Yang,
Ching-Lung Liu,
Tsai-Yu Wang,
Meng-Chih Lin
Affiliations
Ching-Hsiung Lin
Division of Chest Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan
Shih-Lung Cheng
Department of Internal Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei 220, Taiwan
Hao-Chien Wang
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
Wu-Huei Hsu
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan
Kang-Yun Lee
Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 110, Taiwan
Diahn-Warng Perng
Department of Chest Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Hen-I. Lin
Department of Internal Medicine, Cardinal Tien Hospital, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei 242, Taiwan
Ming-Shian Lin
Department of Internal Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi 600, Taiwan
Jong-Rung Tsai
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
Chin-Chou Wang
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan
Sheng-Hao Lin
Division of Chest Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan
Cheng-Yi Wang
Department of Chest Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Chiung-Zuei Chen
Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, College of Medicine and Hospital, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Tsung-Ming Yang
Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi Branch 613, Taiwan
Ching-Lung Liu
Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei 104, Taiwan
Tsai-Yu Wang
Department of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Taipei 333, Taiwan
Meng-Chih Lin
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is preventable and treatable. However, many patients remain undiagnosed and untreated due to the underutilization or unavailability of spirometers. Accordingly, we used Spirobank Smart, an app-based spirometer, for facilitating the early detection of COPD in outpatient clinics. This prospective study recruited individuals who were at risk of COPD (i.e., with age of ≥40 years, ≥10 pack-years of smoking, and at least one respiratory symptoms) but had no previous COPD diagnosis. Eligible participants were examined with Spirobank Smart and then underwent confirmatory spirometry (performed using a diagnostic spirometer), regardless of their Spirobank Smart test results. COPD was defined and confirmed using the postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity values of 1/FVC ratio of <74% that was determined using Spirobank Smart (odds ratio (OR) = 58.58, 95% CI = 27.29–125.75) and old age (OR = 3.23, 95% CI = 1.04–10.07 for 60 ≤ age < 65; OR = 5.82, 95% CI = 2.22–15.27 for age ≥ 65) had a higher risk of COPD. The Spirobank Smart is a simple and adequate tool for early COPD detection in outpatient clinics. Early diagnosis and appropriate therapy based on GOLD guidelines can positively influence respiratory symptoms and quality of life.
