The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) released a joint statement on Mar. 13 regarding the use and interpretation of spirometry in diagnosing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
COPD affects an estimated 480 million people worldwide, with 3.7 million deaths each year, making it the third most common cause of death globally. The economic impact is also significant, as a recent study estimates that the global economic burden from COPD will reach $40 trillion by 2050.
Despite its importance, many patients remain undiagnosed because of confusion over how to interpret spirometry results. For more than three decades, there has been ongoing debate about the correct way to use spirometry to confirm COPD in symptomatic patients.
This lack of consensus has led to confusion among primary care providers, specialists, and lung experts. As a result, some clinicians have perceived spirometry as a difficult test to perform or interpret, leading to its underuse.
According to GOLD and GLI, they have now reached agreement on how spirometry should be interpreted for confirming COPD diagnosis. They also state that performing spirometry is not difficult and encourage increased use of the test.
