Medicina, Vol. 48 No. 2, 2012.
Pregledni rad
The importance of understanding parameters of lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Tajana Jalušić Glunčić
; Kabinet za rehabilitaciju disanja, Klinika za plućne bolesti “Jordanovac”, KBC Zagreb, Zagreb
Sažetak
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a significant medical and economic problem in the world. It is estimated that it will be the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2010. Frequent exacerbations are associated with more rapid decline in health status and lung function and increased risk of hospitalization. Each hospitalization increases the risk of death. The purpose of this article is to point out the importance of lung function tests in COPD. Pulmonary function tests include spirometry, plethysmography, bronhodilatatory test, diffusing capacity of the lungs, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide measurements (FENO), oximetry, respiratory pressures, bonhoprovocation and finally spiroergometry. A lot of data can be obtained from the proper interpretation of the overall lung function (not just spirometry), including answers about the degree of obstruction and etiology of dyspnea. Forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and ratio of FEV1 and forced expiratory vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) are certainly one of the indicators of the degree of obstruction but provide no information on the degree of dyspnea nor the quality of life. In COPD, patients develop respiratory and peripheral muscle weakness which leads to a decrease in inspiratory capacity (IC) and the increase in functional residual capacity (FRC) = end expiratory lung volume (EELV). Patients with COPD have hyperinflation, which is defined as an increase in EELV. Respiratory muscle weakness in COPD patients leads to hypercapnia, dyspnea, nocturnal desaturation, and effort intolerance. The increase in EELV seems to be the best predictor of dyspnea. To improve the quality of life in COPD patients the adequate treatment (able to take inhalation therapy) requires pulmonary rehabilitation, which tends to increase IC and decrease EELV.
Ključne riječi
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; parameters of lung function
Hrčak ID:
84192
URI
Datum izdavanja:
4.6.2012.
Posjeta: 12.034 *