D2.100 - The usefulness of the forced oscillation technique in the diagnosis of bronchial asthma in seniors

Obstructive pulmonary diseases are among the most common diseases in seniors but are often underdiagnosed. One of the factors influencing the diagnosis is the lack of spirometry or the lack of cooperation of the senior in performing it.

This study aimed to assess the value of the forced oscillation technique (FOT) in the diagnosis of bronchial asthma in patients older than 60 years of age.

A total of 189 patients diagnosed with asthma after the age of 60 years were subjected to the following tests: spirometry, FOT and a bronchial reversibility test using both methods. The study included a control group of nonasthmatic seniors. The primary outcomes of the study werethe assessment of the correlation between positive results of resting spirometry and the FOT inpatients with asthma and the correlation between positive results of the bronchial reversibility test using both methods.

The obtained FEV1, V5 and R5 results were correlated in asthmatic patients and differentiated them from nonasthmatics. In 71 (73.2%) patients with asthma, a positive result ofthe reversibility test was obtained using the FOT test, and in 68 (70.1%) patients, a positive result was obtained using spirometry. For 64 (66%) patients, positive reversibility tests were obtained using both methods.

The presented results suggest that the FOT resting test and, in particular, performing a bronchial reversibility test using this method, may increase the probability of diagnosing asthma in the senior group.