UNIVERSITÉ PARIS XI FACULTÉ DE MÉDECINE ... - Kb.u-psud.fr

SUMMARY
Objectives : Characterize the target population of COPD case finding, in family
medicine offices, by using the Piko6® spirometer, and evaluate the impact of
this breathing test on patients’ management.
Methods : Prospective study based on the outcomes of a questionnaire followed
by a hand-held office spirometry measurements, offered to all smokers aged 18
at least, having consulted family practitioners between 05/01/2007 and
10/31/2007.
Results : 109 patients included. The mean age was 39 years old. The prevalence
of a possible airway obstruction, related to a FEV1/FEV6 ratio uncertain or
pathological (less than 0,8), was 18% (19/109). Among these 19 subjects, 78,9%
were men, all of them smoked for at least 10 years, and 79% of them smoked 10
cigarets at least each day ; 47,4% were aged more than 50 years old, 31,6% were
aged between 35 and 50, and 21,1% were aged 35 at least ; 94,7% had a specific
management. The physicians concluded that this test improved patients’ care for
36,7 % of the whole population tested . All the patients included were given a
smoking cessation advice.
Conclusion : The Piko6® is an acceptable and useful tool in general practices,
for COPD case finding, particularly in smokers aged 35 at least, who smoke for
at least 10 years.
Keys Words : case finding ; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ;
FEV1/FEV6 ; Piko6® ; family medicine ; spirometry.
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