title: Computer quantification of airway collapse on forced expiration to predict the presence of emphysema.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spirometric parameters are the mainstay for diagnosis of COPD, but cannot distinguish airway obstruction from emphysema. We aimed to develop a computer model that quantifies airway collapse on forced expiratory flow-volume loops. We then explored and validated the relationship of airway collapse with computed tomography (CT) diagnosed emphysema in two large independent cohorts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computer model was developed in 513 Caucasian individuals with ≥15 pack-years who performed spirometry, diffusion capacity and CT scans to quantify emphysema presence. The model computed the two best fitting regression lines on the expiratory phase of the flow-volume loop and calculated the angle between them. The collapse was expressed as an Angle of collapse (AC) which was then correlated with the presence of emphysema. Findings were validated in an independent group of 340 individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AC in emphysema subjects (N = 251) was significantly lower (131° ± 14°) compared to AC in subjects without emphysema (N = 223), (152° ± 10°) (p < 0.0001). Multivariate regression analysis revealed AC as best indicator of visually scored emphysema (R2 = 0.505, p < 0.0001) with little significant contribution of KCO, %predicted and FEV1, %predicted to the total model (total R2 = 0.626, p < 0.0001). Similar associations were obtained when using CT-automated density scores for emphysema assessment. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves pointed to 131° as the best cut-off for emphysema (95.5% positive predictive value, 97% specificity and 51% sensitivity). Validation in a second group confirmed the significant difference in mean AC between emphysema and non-emphysema subjects. When applying the 131° cut-off, a positive predictive value of 95.6%, a specificity of 96% and a sensitivity of 59% were demonstrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Airway collapse on forced expiration quantified by a computer model correlates with emphysema. An AC below 131° can be considered as a specific cut-off for predicting the presence of emphysema in heavy smokers.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Topalovic
authors.forename: Vasileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Exadaktylos
authors.forename: Anneleen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coolen
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dewever
authors.forename: Martijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hemeryck
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Slagmolen
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berckmans
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Decramer
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Division, University Hospital Leuven, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Wim.Janssens@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Janssens
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004646:Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012907:Smoking; D013147:Spirometry; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed