1393 Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences (SJAMS) ISSN 2320-6691 (Online) Sch. J. App. Med. Sci., 2014; 2(4D):1393-1396 ISSN 2347-954X (Print) ©Scholars Academic and Scientific Publisher (An International Publisher for Academic and Scientific Resources) www.saspublisher.com Research Article Evaluate the Use of Spirometry for Diagnosis of COPD and Assessment of Its Severity Deepak Giri 1* , Ashwin Rajbhoj 1 , Amit Thopte 1 , Kulbhushan Marathe 1 , Sandip Patel 1 , M. A. Ghanekar 2 1 Post Graduate Resident, Department of Medicine, PDVVPF’s Medical College and Dr. Vikhe Patil Hospital, Vilad Ghat, Ahmednagar 2 Professor and Head, Department of Medicine, PDVVPF’s Medical College and Dr. Vikhe Patil Hospital, Vilad Ghat, Ahmednagar *Corresponding author Dr. Deepak Giri Email: Abstract: The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (GOLD) has recommended spirometry as the gold standard for diagnosis of COPD in symptomatic individuals through spirometric testing that demonstrates irreversible airflow obstruction. Spirometry for case-finding diagnosis of all adults with persistent respiratory symptoms or having a history of exposure to pulmonary risk factors has been recommended in primary care settings for all current and former smokers who have persistent respiratory symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of spirometry for diagnosis of COPD and assessment of its severity. A total of 50 subjects with pre-bronchodilator air flow obstruction underwent reversibility testing. Of these, 40 (80%) subjects had persistent airflow obstruction while 10 (20%) were no longer obstructed. For COPD patients, the Mean ± SD age was 58 ± 11 yrs. Of which 21 were current smokers; and the remaining 13 were ex-smokers. The Mean ± SD cigarettes smoked were 42 ± 29 pack-yrs. The Mean ± SD FEV 1 was 1.35 ± 0.52 L (55 ± 17% of predicted) and Mean ± SD FEV 1 /FVC ratio was 0.55 ± 0.09 in these patients. These patients were classified according to GOLD classification in which 18 patients had severe, 11 patients had moderate, and 2 patients had mild and very severe COPD. Spirometry in addition to clinical examination improves COPD diagnostic accuracy compared to clinical examination alone and it is a useful diagnostic tool in individuals with symptoms suggestive of possible COPD. Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Asthma, Spirometry, FEV1/FEV, Smokers, Bronchodilator. INTRODUCTION It is aptly said that the patients of COPD have less years in their life and less life in their years and this disease is now a major concern for quality of life of the individual. COPD kills more than 3 million people every year, making it the 4 th largest cause of death in the world [1]. It has been estimated that by the year 2030, COPD will become the third biggest cause of death. Half a million people die every year due to COPD in India, which is over 4 times the number of people who die due to COPD in USA and Europe [2]. According to a report published by the Maharashtra State Health Resource Centre, COPD is the leading cause of death in Maharashtra, causing more deaths than those due to ischemic heart disease, stroke and diabetes all put together [3]. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (GOLD) has recommended spirometry as the gold standard for diagnosis of COPD in symptomatic individuals through spirometric testing that demonstrates irreversible airflow obstruction [4]. Spirometry for case-finding diagnosis and management of all adults with persistent respiratory symptoms or having a history of exposure to pulmonary risk factors has been recommended in primary care settings for all current and former smokers as well as never smokers who have persistent respiratory symptoms or have history of exposure to other COPD risk factors [5]. Role of spirometry in COPD requires basic understanding of spirometry, its importance in the management of COPD with knowledge of how to perform spirometry correctly and its interpretation (Chart). American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society guidelines (ATS/ERS guidelines) are used for acceptable and reproducible spirometry [6]. The United States Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention suggest spirometry evaluation in a person presenting with shortness of breath, chronic cough,