Telespirometry Performed by General Practitioners for Early Diagnosis of Obstructive Airway Disease: Our Experience

Introduction: Telespirometry is a novel validated instrument to detect airflow limitation in COPD and asthma patients; it consisting of a portable spirometer that transmits the lung ventilatory values on line from general practitioner's office to a Pneumologic center. The spirometry is the gold standard for the diagnosis of obstructive lung disease. Aim: To evaluate if the Telespirometry , performed in the general practitioner's office, could improve the early diagnosis of obstructive airway disease. Methods: After a short course on performance and interpretation of Telespirometry, 10 general practitioners enrolled current or ex-smokers patients with or without respiratory symptoms ad subjects with respiratory symptoms but not history of asthma or COPD. Telespirometry was sent on line to a central office where was interpreted by a pulmonary specialist of our center and the results returned to GP's in real time. Results: 198 subjects were enrolled, (45.45% male and 54.54% female; mean age 53.14 (SD 13.63). 75.76% performed an acceptable Telespirometry. The data showed an obstructive ventilatory patten in 15.15% (43.33%mild; 26.66% moderate; 30% severe), a restrictive in 1.01% and a mixed ventilatory patten in 2.02%. Conclusions: Telespirometry, performed by GP, may improve the early diagnosis of obstructive airway disease, and could be used in clinical practice to the monitoring and the management of COPD and Asthma.