title: Predictors of expiratory flow limitation measured by forced oscillation technique in COPD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Expiratory flow limitation (EFL) during tidal breathing is common in patients with severe COPD, and a major determinant of dynamic hyperinflation and exercise limitation. EFL can be measured by the forced oscillation technique (FOT); however, the relevance to clinical parameters is not fully understood. We hypothesized that emphysema extent and pulmonary function would contribute independently to the degree of EFL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Broadband frequency FOT and pulmonary function tests were performed in 74 patients with COPD to derive respiratory system resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs), and the EFL index as expressed by the differences between inspiratory and expiratory phases of Xrs at 5 Hz (ΔX5). Emphysema extent was measured by high-resolution computed tomography and scored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the basis of the median value of ΔX5 (0.55 cmH2O/L/s), patients were classified into a high or low EFL index group. In multivariate regression analyses, a high EFL index was independently predicted by emphysema score, peripheral airway obstruction (forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of forced vital capacity), hyperinflation (functional residual capacity), and airway caliber (whole-breath Rrs at 5 Hz).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EFL measured by FOT is a global measure of COPD that has separable etiologies and is useful for evaluating the disease condition.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikamo
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shizuoka General Hospital, 4-27-1 Kita-Ando, 420-0881 Aoi, Shizuoka, Japan. toshihiro-shirai@i.shizuoka-pho.jp.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.forename: Kazutaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shishido
authors.forename: Takefumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akita
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asada
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D055815:Young Adult