Office-based assessment of pulmonary function.

PFT is a valuable tool for evaluating the patient with respiratory complaints and for screening the high-risk population. It is no longer only a hospital-based test, but, with current technology, is an efficient, practical procedure that can be performed in an office at minimal cost to the patient. In addition, serial spirometry can be used to identify high-risk populations and gauge response to bronchodilator therapy. Spirometry should be performed routinely in all smokers older than 40.