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Bronchodilator reversibility testing: laboratory practices in Australia and New Zealand
Citation
Borg, BM and Reid, DW and Walters, EH and Johns, DP, Bronchodilator reversibility testing: laboratory practices in Australia and New Zealand, The Medical Journal of Australia, 180, (12) pp. 610-613. ISSN 0025-729X (2004) [Refereed Article]
DOI: doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2004.tb06121.x
Abstract
Objectives: To determine the variation in the methods used to assess and interpret the reversibility of airflow limitation in lung-function laboratories throughout Australia and New Zealand. Design: A postal survey performed in 2000, requesting details of methods used to assess and interpret bronchodilator reversibility. Setting and participants: 60 lung-function laboratories identified from the Australian and New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science mailing list. Main outcome measures: Bronchodilator agent, dose, mode of administration, time to repeat spirometry and definition of a significant response. Results: 37 laboratories responded (response rate, 64%). Thirty-three laboratories used salbutamol as their routine bronchodilator agent. Twenty-four laboratories used a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) with (21) or without (3) a spacer device as the preferred mode of bronchodilator administration. There was wide variation in the bronchodilator dose administered (median, 400 μg; range, 200-800 μg salbutamol for MDIs) and the time to repeat spirometry following bronchodilator administration (median, 10 min; range, 4-20 min). Ten laboratories used criteria consistent with either the National Asthma Council or Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand COPDX guidelines to define a significant bronchodilator response, and two used American Thoracic Society criteria. The remaining 25 respondents listed a variety of other criteria. Conclusion: The methods used to assess and interpret acute bronchodilator reversibility in lung-function laboratories in Australia and New Zealand vary considerably. This may have a significant effect on the diagnosis and management of patients. Laboratories should report the method used to assess bronchodilator response.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Research Division: | Biomedical and Clinical Sciences |
Research Group: | Cardiovascular medicine and haematology |
Research Field: | Respiratory diseases |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Clinical health |
Objective Field: | Clinical health not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Reid, DW (Dr David Reid) |
UTAS Author: | Walters, EH (Professor Haydn Walters) |
UTAS Author: | Johns, DP (Associate Professor David Johns) |
ID Code: | 30750 |
Year Published: | 2004 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 14 |
Deposited By: | Medicine |
Deposited On: | 2004-08-01 |
Last Modified: | 2005-04-22 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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