SynthesisRespiratory research2022
Spirometry parameters used to define small airways obstruction in population-based studies: systematic review.
Synthesis in Respiratory research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 33 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
33 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- New spirometry recommendations from the Brazilian Thoracic Association - 2024 update.Jornal brasileiro de pneumologia : publicacao oficial da Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisilogia · 2025Guideline
- The association of spirometric small airways obstruction with respiratory symptoms, cardiometabolic diseases, and quality of life: results from the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study.Respiratory research · 2023Pooled it
- Small airways dysfunction: associated factors, clinical aspects and new perspectives.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2026Review
- Small airways obstruction predicts cardiovascular disease incidence: a longitudinal study of UK Biobank.ERJ open research · 2026Article
- Characteristics of small airway disease in patients with HIV infection: insights from spirometry and impulse oscillometry.BMJ open respiratory research · 2026Article
- Early Functional Impairment in Smokers with CT-Detected Emphysema: Spirometry Provides Complementary Physiological Information in Lung Cancer Screening.Biomedicines · 2026Article
- Small Airway Dysfunction in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Pathology: Assessment and Clinical Implications.Tuberculosis and respiratory diseases · 2026Article
- Impulse oscillometry values calibrated against spirometric obstruction in children with suspected asthma.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2026Article
- Prevalence and Environmental Correlates of Small Airways Dysfunction in a Rural Swiss Cohort.Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases · 2026Article
- Small airway dysfunction: a shared, early, measurable, and potentially treatable trait across COPD, asthma, and fibrotic lung disease.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Review
- Applicability of the Global Lung Function Initiative-2022 spirometry reference equations among healthy adults in Iraq.The Libyan journal of medicine · 2025Article
- Impulse oscillometry-defined airway abnormalities as a treatable trait for mild-to-moderate COPD: a prospective cohort study with 3-year follow-up.ERJ open research · 2025Article
- Steady Quiet Asthma Without Biologics: One-Year Outcomes of Single-Inhaler Triple Therapy for Severe Asthma with Small Airway Dysfunction.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Lung function decline and incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in participants with spirometry-defined small airway dysfunction: a 15-year prospective cohort study in China.Respiratory research · 2025Article
- Reduced FEVInternational journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2025Article
- The Impact of Age and Disease Entity on Small Airway Dysfunction in Obstructive Airway Diseases.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2025Article
- Physiological Small Airways Dysfunction and the Bronchodilator Response in Adults With Asthma and Its Risk Factors: A Retrospective Analysis.Journal of asthma and allergy · 2025Article
- Association between impaired diffusion capacity and small airway dysfunction: a cross-sectional study.ERJ open research · 2025Article
- Prevalence and Risk Factors of Spirometry-Defined Small Airway Dysfunction in the High-Risk Population for COPD in Yunnan Province, China: A Population Based Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2025Article
- Small airway disease as a key factor in COPD: new perspectives and insights.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe assessment of small airways obstruction (SAO) using spirometry is practiced in population-based studies. However, it is not clear what are the most used parameters and cut-offs to define abnormal results.
methodsWe searched three databases (Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar) for population-based studies, published by 1 May 2021, that used spirometry parameters to identify SAO and/or provided criteria for defining SAO. We systematically reviewed these studies and summarised evidence to determine the most widely used spirometry parameter and criteria for defining SAO. In addition, we extracted prevalence estimates and identified associated risk factors. To estimate a pooled prevalence of SAO, we conducted a meta-analysis and explored heterogeneity across studies using meta regression.
resultsTwenty-five studies used spirometry to identify SAO. The most widely utilised parameter (15 studies) was FEF
conclusionThere is a lack of consensus regarding the best spirometry parameter or defining criteria for identification of SAO. The value of continuing to measure SAO using spirometry is unclear without further research using large longitudinal data. PROSPERO registration number CRD42021250206.
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