Quality of home spirometry performance amongst adults with cystic fibrosis

Spirometry is usually performed under the supervision of a trained respiratory scientist to ensure acceptability and repeatability of results. To evaluate the quality of spirometry performance by adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with and without observation by a trained respiratory scientist, an observational, single centre study was conducted between February to December 2020. 74 adults were recruited and instructed to perform spirometry without supervision within 24 h of their remote CF clinic consultation. Spirometry was repeated at their consultation, supervised by a respiratory scientist using video conferencing. The majority of patients achieved grade A (excellent) or B (very good) spirometry quality with (95%) and without supervision (93%) independent of lung function severity. Similarly, forced expiratory volume in 1 second demonstrated no significant differences with paired spirometry performed within a 24 hour period. For a large proportion of adult CF patients, unsupervised portable spirometry produces acceptable and repeatable results. (c) 2021 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study found that unsupervised portable spirometry in adult cystic fibrosis patients can produce acceptable and repeatable results. The quality of spirometry was excellent or very good for the majority of patients, with no significant differences between supervised and unsupervised spirometry performed within a 24-hour period.