The following is a summary of “Comparison of a portable, pneumotach flow-sensor–based spirometer (Spirofy™) with the vitalograph alpha Touch™ spirometer in evaluating lung function in healthy individuals, asthmatics, and COPD patients—a randomized, crossover study,” published in the May 2024 issue of Pulmonology by Talwar et al.

Spirofy^TM represents India’s pioneering portable, pneumotach flow-sensor-based digital spirometer, designed to diagnose asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to rigorously compare the Spirofy^TM device’s performance with the established Vitalograph Alpha Touch^TM spirometer, particularly in assessing lung capacities across diverse cohorts, including healthy individuals, asthmatics, and patients with COPD. Additionally, the researchers evaluated inter-device variability between two Spirofy^TM units to ensure consistency and reliability.

Conducted as a randomized, three-way crossover, open-label investigation, this study meticulously examined discrepancies in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC) measurements between the Spirofy^TM and Vitalograph Alpha Touch^TM spirometers. Diagnostic accuracies were gauged using the proportion of FEV₁/FVC ratio distributions (<0.7) to compare Spirofy^TM against the Vitalograph^TM Alpha Touch^TM spirometers.

Ninety participants were recruited for this study. Mean ± SD FVC values obtained from Spirofy^TM 1, Spirofy^TM 2, and Vitalograph Alpha Touch^TM devices were 2.60 ± 1.05 L, 2.64 ± 1.04 L, and 2.67 ± 1.04 L, respectively. Correspondingly, mean ± SD FEV₁ values from Spirofy^TM 1, Spirofy^TM 2, and Vitalograph Alpha Touch^TM devices were 1.87 ± 0.92 (L), 1.88 ± 0.92 (L), and 1.93 ± 0.93 (L), respectively. Significantly positive correlations were observed between FVC and FEV₁ values recorded by Vitalograph Alpha Touch^TM, Spirofy^TM 1, and Spirofy^TM 2. Notably, compared to the Vitalograph Alpha Touch^TM, the Spirofy^TM device demonstrated robust sensitivity (97%), specificity (90%), and overall accuracy (93.3%) in identifying an FEV₁/FVC ratio < 0.7. Additionally, no notable inter-device variability was detected between the two Spirofy^TM devices.

The findings underscore Spirofy^TM as a portable, user-friendly device that exhibits accuracy akin to that of the standard Vitalograph Alpha Touch^TM spirometer in diagnosing COPD and asthma.

Source: bmcpulmmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12890-024-02972-4