Measurement of novel indices of lung function in respiratory disease

Research summary

Currently,respiratory disorders are diagnosed,assessed or monitored using lung function measurements provided by forced spirometry. Spirometric measures have some limitations including: being effort- and technique-dependent and not being sensitive to early changes in the lung,meaning their utility in diagnosis early lung disease or monitoring disease progression or treatment effects is limited. Our research team has developed a new method for measuring lung function which involves assessing inhomogeneity (unevenness) in gas-exchange in the lung. This is based on two advances: a gas analyser that measures respired gases (Oxygen,Carbon Dioxide,Nitrogen) with very high precision and a novel mathematical model of the cardiopulmonary system. The method provides new indices of lung function (lung heterogeneity parameters relating to ventilation/perfusion,lung compliance and deadspace). Measures of lung inhomogeneity are typically very sensitive and as such promising in assessing early or more subtle changes in the lung. We hypothesise that these new measures of lung function will be useful in the (early) diagnosis and assessment of respiratory disease. The overarching aim is: to understand how these novel non-invasive lung function (heterogeneity) indices vary (i.e. their range and reproducibility) across a number of different respiratory disorders,and in those with suspected lung disease and in healthy volunteers without respiratory disease (including smokers and non-smokers). Other aims include: (i) Compare these novel indices with conventional clinical measurements of lung function; (ii) assess the impact of routine interventions e.g. bronchodilators on these indices of lung function and (iii) assess how they cary with disease severity. As such,this is an observational study in which participants are assessed with: (i) Novel Lung heterogeneity Test,(ii) Conventional measures of lung function (e.g. spirometry,gas-transfer factor measurements) and other small-airway tests (e.g. impulse oscillometry),(iii) Review of medical history,medications,smoking history and respiratory symptoms (with questionnaires) and (iv) Blood tests.

Principal Investigator

Dr Nick Talbot

Contact us

Email: samantha.chilcott@ndm.ox.ac.uk

IRAS number

208382