title: A combination of the IPAG questionnaire and PiKo-6® flow meter is a valuable screening tool for COPD in the primary care setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the validity of the International Primary Care Airways Guidelines (IPAG) questionnaire and PiKo-6® (Ferraris Respiratory Europe Ltd.) flow meter as screening tools for diagnosing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the primary care setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  The first 50 patients in 25 general practice offices completed the IPAG questionnaire and underwent spirometry with the handheld PiKo-6® flow meter. The results were compared with official spirometry parameters after bronchodilation. All participants had no previous medical diagnosis of respiratory diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 1,078 out of 1,250 subjects (462 males, mean age 65.3 ± 11.4 years) were analysed. The percentage of smokers was 48.4% (38 ± 29 pack-years). COPD was diagnosed in 111 (10.3%) patients. In the subgroup of smokers the sensitivity and specificity for COPD diagnosis were 91% and 49%, respectively, for the IPAG questionnaire; 80% and 95% respectively for the PiKo-6® spirometer; and 72% and 97% for their combination. The negative predictive value of the questionnaire was 97%, whereas the positive predictive value of the questionnaire/ PiKo-6® combination was 82%. Using a cut-off score of 19 points for the IPAG questionnaire, we calculated the best combination of sensitivity (75%) and specificity (72%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IPAG questionnaire and the hand-held PiKo-6® spirometer can be used in combination to increase the possibility of an early and accurate diagnosis of COPD in the primary care setting.
authors: Pulmonary Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, G. Papanikolaou Hospital, Exohi, Thessaloniki, Greece. sichlet@med.auth.gr
authors: Lazaros
authors: L
authors: Sichletidis
authors: Dionisios
authors: D
authors: Spyratos
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Papaioannou
authors: Diamantis
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authors: Chloros
authors: Anastasios
authors: A
authors: Tsiotsios
authors: Vasiliki
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authors: Tsagaraki
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