Novel lung function test tool
July 4, 2014
Researchers at Sydney’s
Woolcock Institute of Medical
Research have found that an
emerging lung function tool is both
“more informative and easier to
use” than currently available tools
including peak flow measurement.
The so-called “forced oscillation
technique” (FOT) is not actually
new, having been invented in
1950 - but it hasn’t been able to
be used until recent technological
advances which have allowed
such a sophisticated device to be
produced more economically.
The new technique is expected
to be particularly useful in
small children where it’s often
quite difficult to use peak flow
measurement.
Woolcock paediatric respiratory
physician, Dr Paul Robinson, said
FOT can help doctors tell how well
controlled the asthma in a child
is, and gauge the severity of the
condition.
The Woolcock study, published
today in the CHEST journal,
involved the use of FOT daily on 22
asthmatic children aged 8-12 who
attended a five day camp organised
by the NSW Asthma Foundation.
Compared to peak flow tests
the FOT results were more
sensitive, with Robinson saying
children whose asthma was poorly
controlled or more severe had
greater fluctuation in the degree of
airway narrowing from day to day.
Peak flow measurements also
didn’t show any relationships to
asthma control or severity.
Dr Robinson said it was hoped
that the results of the study
may motivate a commercial
manufacturer to come on board
and bring a FOT device for home
monitoring to market.
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