Satisfaction and clinical application value of impulse oscillometry in geriatric patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in comparison with non geriatric patients

Context Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis depends on spirometry, which is an effort-dependent test and needs cooperative patients, whereas impulse oscillometry (IOS) requires less effort and cooperation, which are advantageous for geriatric patients. However, the clinical value of IOS in geriatric patients remains under study. Aims To investigate the satisfaction and clinical value of IOS in geriatric patients with COPD in comparison with nongeriatric patients. Patients and methods A total of 100 individuals were prospectively included in this study: 50 patients with COPD (25 nongeriatric and 25 geriatric) and 50 healthy (25 nongeriatric and 25 geriatric) as control. Both groups underwent IOS and spirometry examination, and a short questionnaire evaluated satisfaction of patients with COPD with spirometry and IOS. Statistical analysis Statistical Package for the Social Science, version 20 was used to analyze the data. Results (a) Geriatric patients with COPD had an increase in Fres and respiratory resistance (R5, R20, and R5-R20) and a decrease in respiratory reactance (X5) in comparison with healthy geriatric patients. (b) The IOS parameters, in particular R5-R20, correlated well with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) in nonadvanced elderly patients with COPD. (c) The sensitivities of the spirometric measures [FEV1/force vital capacity ratio, force vital capacity (% predicted value), and FEV1 (% predicated value)] and that of IOS parameters (R5 and R20) are 100% in geriatric patients with COPD. (d) Better satisfaction score for IOS in comparison with spirometry was found in advanced elderly patients with COPD. Conclusion IOS had a good clinical value in COPD diagnosis, mainly in elderly, who cannot undergo spirometry.