Contrasting diagnosis performance of forced oscillation and spirometry in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and respiratory symptoms

Authors

  • Alvaro Camilo Dias Faria State University of Rio de Janeiro; Institute of Biology and Faculty of Engineering; Biomedical Instrumentation Laboratory
  • Wellington Ribeiro Barbosa State University of Rio de Janeiro; Institute of Biology and Faculty of Engineering; Biomedical Instrumentation Laboratory
  • Agnaldo José Lopes State University of Rio de Janeiro; Faculty of Medical Sciences; Pulmonary Function Laboratory
  • Geraldo da Rocha Castelar Pinheiro State University of Rio de Janeiro; Faculty of Medical Sciences; Rheumatology Service
  • Pedro Lopes de Melo State University of Rio de Janeiro; Biomedical Institute; BioVasc Laboratory

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2012(09)01

Keywords:

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Respiratory Diseases, Forced Oscillation Technique, Early Detection, Early Diagnosis

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid arthritis is directly responsible for 10% to 20% of all mortality. The best way to improve the prognosis is early detection and treatment. The forced oscillation technique is easy to perform and offers a detailed exam, which may be helpful in the early detection of respiratory changes. This study was undertaken to (1) evaluate the clinical potential of the forced oscillation technique in the detection of early respiratory alterations in rheumatoid arthritis patients with respiratory complaints and (2) to compare the sensitivity of forced oscillation technique and spirometric parameters. METHODS: A total of 40 individuals were analyzed: 20 healthy and 20 with rheumatoid arthritis (90% with respiratory complaints). The clinical usefulness of the parameters was evaluated by investigating the sensibility, the specificity and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01641705. RESULTS: The early adverse respiratory effects of rheumatoid arthritis were adequately detected by the forced oscillation technique parameters, and a high accuracy for clinical use was obtained (AUC.0.9, Se = 80%, Sp = 95%). The use of spirometric parameters did not obtain an appropriate accuracy for clinical use. The diagnostic performance of the forced oscillation technique parameters was significantly higher than that of spirometry. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study provide substantial evidence that the forced oscillation technique can contribute to the easy identification of initial respiratory abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis patients that are not detectable by spirometric exams. Therefore, we believe that the forced oscillation technique can be used as a complementary exam that may help to improve the treatment of breathing disorders in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2012-09-01

Issue

Section

Clinical Sciences

How to Cite

Faria, A. C. D., Barbosa, W. R., Lopes, A. J., Pinheiro, G. da R. C., & Melo, P. L. de. (2012). Contrasting diagnosis performance of forced oscillation and spirometry in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and respiratory symptoms. Clinics, 67(9), 987-994. https://doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2012(09)01