Routine Office Spirometry Versus European Community Respiratory Health Study Questionnaire

Abstract

Methods: We report spirometric findings in 108 individuals. All were to complete a short questionnaire and were studied by spirometry.Results: Positive response to questionnaire was noticed in 66.7%; 33.3% had no clinical complain and thus negative response. The positive response was particularly common in males who were smoker or ex-smokers. All patients were studied by spirometry which showed that 70.4% had normal spirometric pattern and 29.6% had obstructive pattern. The patients' mean age was not significantly correlated to the response of questionnaire and in determining the spirometric pattern. On the contrary to the questionnaire response, the correlation between spirometric results and socio-demographic characteristics of patients was not significant. Most importantly, the study had shown no significant association between the spirometric results (obstructive or normal) and the clinical response to questionnaire.Conclusions: Routine office spirometry has to be offered to all individuals elder than 33 years whether they have positive or negative response to questionnaire.