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The Use and Interpretation of Impedance Oscillometry in Pulmonary Disorders

  • COPD and Asthma (W Calhoun, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose

Chronic respiratory diseases are prevalent among adults and lung function testing is imperative for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. While spirometry is the standard measure of lung function, there exist groups of individuals unable to adequately perform accurate and reproducible lung function testing. Impedance oscillometry system (IOS) is an effort independent test that may be employed to assess airway function in challenging groups such as children and elderly. This review will compare IOS and spirometry and describe the physiologic measurements of lung function and interpretation strategies in adults with chronic airway disease.

Recent Findings

In adults with COPD, impedance oscillometry measurements of airway resistance correlate with the severity of airflow limitation measured with spirometry. In adults with asthma, IOS is a sensitive measure of airway hyperresponsiveness and bronchodilator response.

Summary

Impedance oscillometry is emerging, alternative method to assess lung function in adults.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pulmonary Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA

    Mohammed F. Zaidan & Alexander Duarte

  2. School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA

    Shahanaz Meah

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Correspondence to Alexander Duarte.

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Mohammed F. Zaidan, Shahanaz Meah, and Alexander Duarte declare no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on COPD and Asthma

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Zaidan, M.F., Meah, S. & Duarte, A. The Use and Interpretation of Impedance Oscillometry in Pulmonary Disorders. Curr Pulmonol Rep 7, 196–202 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13665-018-0218-z

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