Recommendations on interpretive strategies for routine lung function tests

Abstract

During the annual conference of the German Respiratory Society (DGP=Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin) in 2024, updated recommendations for lung function testing have been published. The original full-length version can be downloaded free of charge as pfd-paper from the journal entitled Atemwegs- und Lungenkrankheiten, Jahrgang 50 (2024) März (111-184). In the current recommendations new approaches have been embedded that focus on modern interpretations of lung function results, as has been proposed by the ERS (European Respiratory Society) in collaboration with the ATS (American Thoracic Society). This targets the spirometry, the whole bodyplethysmography, diffusion capacity testing, testing for bronchodilation, unspecific bronchoprovocation in addition to the reference values. Oscillometry and respiratory muscle function testing are also included in the recommendations. The current publication considers itself as a short version of the most important topics of the full-length lung function recommendations. However, reading also the full-length paper is strongly emphasised based on the understanding that lung function testing is highly important in daily clinical practice when dealing with patients suffering from respiratory diseases.