QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Résumé Extracto Full Text PDF Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Articles Ahead of Print [Order Reprint] Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tovar, J. M Articles by Gums, J. G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tovar, J. M Articles by Gums, J. G

AMBULATORY CARE

Monitoring Pulmonary Function in Asthma and COPD: Point-of-Care Testing

Clinical Pharmacy Fellow, Departments of Pharmacy Practice and Family Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

John G Gums, PharmD

Professor of Pharmacy and Medicine, Departments of Pharmacy Practice and Family Medicine, University of Florida

Reprints: John M Tovar PharmD, Departments of Pharmacy Practice and Family Medicine, University of Florida, 625 SW 4th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601-6496, fax 352/392-7766, tovar{at}chfm.ufl.edu

OBJECTIVE: To provide pharmacists and other healthcare providers with a better understanding of new monitoring technologies for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) available to clinics and pharmacies.

DATA SOURCES: Forty scientific articles were identified through a MEDLINE search (1990–June 2003), additional references listed in articles, and abstracts from scientific meetings.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: English-language literature of controlled human clinical studies was reviewed to evaluate the accuracy, reliability, validity, and response of the new monitoring technologies.

DATA SYNTHESIS: The In-Check DIAL is a pulmonary airflow meter that identifies the most appropriate inhaler for a patient and is useful in determining how efficiently patients use their inhalers. Electronic peak flow meters such as the AirWatch, VMX Wright Mini-Log, PiKo-1, and electronic asthma monitor store and download multiple pulmonary function test (PFT) readings to a personal computer, allowing easy identification of patients who are fabricating results. The AirWatch also has the ability to measure forced expiratory volume in 1 second. The Spirophone AG-SP, VM Plus, and Micro DiaryCard spirometer are portable spirometers that can be used at home without the need for supervision. Bronchial challenge tests have been recently standardized and may prove to be beneficial in modifying drug therapy in patients with asthma and COPD.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite recent advances in medical technology, monitoring of asthma and COPD has not changed significantly. PFTs continue to be the gold standard for evaluating airway obstruction and/or restriction. Clinical trials that will evaluate outcomes such as decreased number of hospitalizations, emergency department visits, unscheduled visits to physicians, and days absent from school or work are needed to determine the utility of new monitoring technologies.

Key Words: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, monitoring

Published Online, December 5, 2003. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1D230

THIS ARTICLE IS APPROVED FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT
ACPE UNIVERSAL PROGRAM NUMBER: 407-000-04-005-H01

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. A. Fonseca, A. Costa-Pereira, L. Delgado, L. N. Silva, M. Magalhaes, M. G. Castel-Branco, and M. Vaz Pulmonary Function Electronic Monitoring Devices: A Randomized Agreement Study Chest, September 1, 2005; 128(3): 1258 - 1265. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]