Spirometry is as important a test as measuring blood pressure or blood glucose. It allows the early diagnosis of a condition that is one of the world’s leading killers of people, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the doctors reminded.
Specialists from the Polish Society of Lung Diseases (PTCh) spoke about it on Tuesday at a press conference in Warsaw. At the same time, they encouraged Poles to apply for free spirometry tests that will be conducted throughout Poland on June 27, when World Spirometry Day is celebrated. The list of 94 centers where you can apply for the examination is available on the Society’s website (www.ptchp.pl).
At the same time, at the initiative of the Polish Federation of Asthma, Allergy and COPD Patients’ Associations, free spirometry tests will be conducted in 135 medical centers on June 27-29. The addresses of these institutions are available on the federation’s website (www.astma-alergia-pochp.pl).
“Few people know that a spirometry test takes only 10 minutes and is painless, while also allowing the detection of dangerous respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma. Cigarette smokers who have not been diagnosed with COPD before should do it at least once every three years, ”said Dr. Małgorzata Czajkowska-Malinowska, head of the Department of Lung Diseases and Respiratory Failure Kujawsko-Pomorskie Pulmonology Center in Bydgoszcz.
President of the PTChP prof. Dorota Górecka recalled that cigarette smoking is the main cause of COPD in our country – smokers account for 85 percent. all sick. As she explained, this addiction accelerates the aging of the lungs and the loss of ventilation reserves.
COPD develops slowly over several decades. It is accompanied by increasing shortness of breath, especially during exercise, and later even at rest. The disease gradually leads to respiratory disability and premature death, said Prof. Górecka.
Spirometry allows to assess ventilation reserves and is the basic test for the detection of obstruction (i.e. bronchoconstriction), therefore it is a canon in the diagnosis of COPD, emphasized Prof. Paweł Śliwiński, vice president of PTChP.
According to him, spirometric tests should be carried out especially in people who smoke tobacco regularly or have smoked it in the past, but also in non-smokers who have a chronic cough, experience shortness of breath or worse tolerance of effort, in people who have been exposed to passive smoking. and in workers who have inhaled dust, fumes and gases that are potentially irritating to the respiratory system.
Spirometry is also used in the diagnosis and classification of bronchial asthma, and in monitoring the progression of the disease and the effects of its treatment. Therefore, the Polish Federation of Asthma, Allergy and COPD Patients’ Associations encourages children from 6 years of age to apply for free tests this year.
As prof. Górecka, non-communicable chronic lung diseases, including obstructive diseases, are considered to be one of the leading causes of human death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COPD ranks fourth on this list.
Experts estimate that at least 6 million Poles suffer from these diseases in total. “Unfortunately, we are observing an unfavorable upward trend when it comes to the incidence and mortality from these diseases” – emphasized prof. Górecka.
Based on epidemiological studies with the acronym BOLD, specialists estimate that in Poland 2,5 to 4 million Poles suffer from COPD (assuming that the population of adults over 40 is 18 million). As explained by prof. Górecka, it is estimated that 4 million have COPD, but 2,5 million are symptomatic – i.e. moderate, severe, and very severe.
“Unfortunately, only 20 percent. Poles have a diagnosed and treated disease, and a huge population is waiting for an appropriate diagnosis and treatment to begin “- emphasized prof. Śliwiński.
In his opinion, COPD should be diagnosed as early as possible, because research shows that the rate of decline in lung capacity is the fastest in patients with moderate disease. Conversely, if you persuade a person to quit smoking, the progression of COPD can be stopped and premature death can be prevented. Access to pulmonary rehabilitation and treatment that improves the patient’s quality of life are also very important. (PAP)
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