The American Thoracic Society Committee Task Force on Standards for Pulmonary Function had recommended a standardized reporting format for pulmonary function tests due to considerable variability in pulmonary function reports presented to end users, which might lead to potential confusion and miscommunication. This recommendation includes seven parts: overview, introduction, methods, report format, selecting and reporting reference values, grading the quality of pulmonary function tests and conclusions. This document presents a reporting format in test-specific units for spirometry, lung volumes, and diffusing capacity that can be assembled into a report appropriate for a laboratory’s practice. Recommended reference sources are updated, with especially emphasizing to adapt lower limit of normal (LLN) or z score instead of percent of prediction to estimate the abnormal results. This document provides detail and clear explanation on the recommendations, which might improve the interpretation, communication, and understanding of test results. However, parts of recommendation might not be used directly in our clinical practice owing to some specific conditions in China. We suggest to use appropriate normal predictions from Chinese population, to include small airway parameters such as mid-maximal expiratory flow for early detection of pulmonary function deterioration, and to include inspiratory flow volume curve, as well as strengthen the quality control data and figures in the report format.
Citation:
ZHENG Jinping, LIANG Xiaolin. ATS Recommendations for a Standardized Pulmonary Function Report: interpretation and discussion. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 2018, 18(3): 249-253. doi: 10.7507/1672-2531.201801130
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- 1. Culver B, Graham B, Coates A, et al. Recommendations for a standardized pulmonary function report-An official American Throacic Society Technical Statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 2017, 196(11): 1463-1472.
- 2. Miller MR, Crapo R, Hankinson J, et al. General considerations for lung function testing. Eur Respir J, 2005, 26(1): 153-161.
- 3. Miller MR, Hankinson J, Brusasco V, et al. Standardisation of spirometry. Eur Respir J, 2005, 26(2): 319-338.
- 4. Wanger J, Clausen JL, Coates A, et al. Standardisation of the measurement of lung volumes. Eur Respir J, 2005, 26(3): 511-22.
- 5. Macintyre N, Crapo RO, Viegi G, et al. Standardisation of the single-breath determination of carbon monoxide uptake in the lung. Eur Respir J, 2005, 26(4): 720-735.
- 6. Pellegrino R, Viegi G, Brusasco V, et al. Interpretative strategies for lung function tests. Eur Respir J, 2005, 26(5): 948-968.
- 7. Quanjer PH, Stanojevic S, Cole TJ, et al. ERS Global Lung Function Initiative. Multi-ethnic reference values for spirometry for the 3–95 yr age range: the global lung function 2012 equations. Eur Respir J, 2012, 40(6): 1324-1343.
- 8. Jian W, Gao Y, Hao C, et al. Reference values for spirometry in Chinese aged 4–80 years. J Thorac Dis, 2017, 9(11): 4538-4549.