Desalu Olufemi O, Salami Alakija K, Fawibe Ademola E, Oluboyo Patrick O
Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria.
Ann Afr Med. 2010 Jul-Sep;9(3):147-51. doi: 10.4103/1596-3519.68365.
Spirometry is a noninvasive and cost-effective physiologic test that greatly complements other investigative procedures in evaluation of respiratory conditions. This study was aimed at auditing the spirometry performed at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) Ilorin, Nigeria, and highlighting some of the challenges associated with the procedure.
We reviewed and analyzed the record of spirometry performed at the cardiopulmonary unit of the hospital from June 2002 to December 2009.
A total of 119 patients had spirometry tests from 2002 to 2009 and their age ranged from 15 to 85 years with a mean of 47.6 +/- 14.8 years. There were 69 (58%) males and the male:female ratio was 1.4:1. More than half (65%) of the tests were in patients <50 years old. The rate of spirometry performed annually increased from 12 (10.1%) in 2002 to 31 (26.1%) in year 2009. Evaluation of bronchial asthma was the most common indication for spirometry (43 patients; 36.1%). Majority of the requests (84 patients; 70.6%) were from adult respiratory physicians. The identified challenges were lack of awareness of the range of diseases that could be investigated by spirometry, lack of skills in interpreting the results, lack of time and delays in replacing exhausted consumables and faulty components of spirometer.
Gradually, the trend of spirometry request is increasing in UITH; however, a wider acceptability could be achieved for this test by raising the level of awareness and improving the skills of all doctors on the usefulness and interpretation of spirometry.
肺量测定法是一种非侵入性且经济高效的生理测试，在评估呼吸状况时能极大地补充其他检查程序。本研究旨在审核在尼日利亚伊洛林伊洛林大学教学医院（UITH）进行的肺量测定法，并突出该程序相关的一些挑战。
我们回顾并分析了该医院心肺科在2002年6月至2009年12月期间进行的肺量测定记录。
2002年至2009年共有119例患者进行了肺量测定测试，他们的年龄在15岁至85岁之间，平均年龄为47.6±14.8岁。男性有69例（58%），男女比例为1.4:1。超过一半（65%）的测试是针对年龄小于50岁的患者。每年进行肺量测定的比率从2002年的12例（10.1%）增加到2009年的31例（26.1%）。评估支气管哮喘是肺量测定最常见的指征（43例患者；36.1%）。大多数请求（84例患者；70.6%）来自成人呼吸内科医生。所发现的挑战包括对可通过肺量测定法检查的疾病范围缺乏认识、缺乏解读结果的技能、缺乏时间以及在更换耗尽的耗材和肺活量计的故障部件方面存在延迟。
在UITH，肺量测定请求的趋势逐渐增加；然而，通过提高认识水平并改善所有医生对肺量测定法的有用性和解读的技能，该测试可获得更广泛的接受度。
