PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Dennis Wat
AU  - Sarah Haines
AU  - Linda Lukehirst
AU  - Joan McWean
AU  - Onnor Hampson
AU  - Kamlesh Mohan
TI  - Irreversible airways obstruction on spirometry, does it equate to a diagnosis of COPD?
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P1133
VI  - 40
IP  - Suppl 56
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P1133.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P1133.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40
AB  - Introduction: Irreversible airways obstruction and a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio of <70% on spirometry is diagnostic of chronic obstructive airways disease (COPD). Using the above criteria to make clinical diagnosis may potentially overlook other obstructive lung diseases.Aims: To study the prevalence and characteristics of lung diseases in patients with irreversible airways obstruction.Methods: The diagnosis of all patients with irreversible airways obstruction seen in our service between August 2011 and January 2012 seen respiratory physicians was retrospectively reviewed. Respiratory diagnosis was made based on clinical history, physiology testing and radiology.Results: There were a total of 486 referrals; 446 (92%) have COPD and 40 (8%) have bronchiectasis. No other obstructive lung diseases were diagnosed. There are no significant differences between the demographics of the COPD and bronchiectasis groups.View this table:Baseline characteristics of patients with COPD and bronchiectasisConclusions: Current guidelines define irreversible airways obstruction as COPD and many of the therapeutic management strategies for COPD are based on the degree of airway obstruction. We have shown that a proportion of patients with irreversible airways obstruction have bronchiectasis. Hence any patients with irreversible airways diseases who are refractory to maximised COPD management should prompt a review of the diagnosis.