ArticleCureus2025
Use of Spirometry for Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Approach of General Practitioners and Pulmonologists From Karachi, Pakistan.
Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundSpirometry is a quick and non-invasive method for evaluating an individual's lung health. Respiratory illnesses, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, are screened for, diagnosed, and tracked with its help. This study aims to ascertain the diagnosis and therapy of COPD from the perspective of Pakistani general practitioners and consultant pulmonologists in Karachi.
methodsA retrospective cross-sectional study design was adopted for this research. This study was conducted over six months, from January 2020 to June 2020. The sample consisted of general practitioners and pulmonologists from all campuses (North, Clifton, and Kemari) of Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
resultsThe usage of spirometry, a key tool in COPD diagnosis and management, was found to be low, with only 13.6% of patients having undergone the test before or during treatment. The rate of spirometry use was 37.5% among pulmonologists and a mere 10.3% among non-pulmonologists. This indicates a significant gap in the use of this important diagnostic tool. Oral bronchodilators and long-acting beta-agonist (LABA)/steroids were more commonly prescribed by pulmonologists, with a frequency of 87.5% and 37.5%, respectively, compared to 41.4% and 20.7%, respectively, among non-pulmonologists.
conclusionSpirometry, the recommended test for the diagnosis of several respiratory diseases, including COPD, is not used as frequently as it should be. The study found that non-pulmonologists are more reluctant to use spirometry than pulmonologists. This emphasizes the necessity of raising awareness and providing training regarding the significance of spirometry in the identification and treatment of COPD.
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