{"id":110,"date":"2024-05-28T14:59:32","date_gmt":"2024-05-28T13:59:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/global-respiratory-health\/?p=110"},"modified":"2024-05-28T16:27:26","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T15:27:26","slug":"unmasking-the-threat-of-small-airways-obstruction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/global-respiratory-health\/2024\/05\/28\/unmasking-the-threat-of-small-airways-obstruction\/","title":{"rendered":"Unmasking the threat of small airways obstruction"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tiny Airways, Big Impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The damage of the small airways of the lungs can result in inflammation, structural changes, and increased airway resistance. This is a common characteristic of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While the small airways of the lungs may not be the star of the show, they are a crucial part of the lung health story.<\/p>\n

Spirometry: The Lung Detective<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Small airways obstruction (SAO) can be detected using spirometry. Traditionally, the mean forced expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% of the forced vital capacity (FEF25-75<\/sub>) is the preferred parameter. However, novel parameters such as the forced expiratory volume in 3 seconds as a ratio of the forced expiratory volume in 6 seconds (FEV3<\/sub>\/FEV6<\/sub>), have proven effective at detecting SAO.<\/p>\n

We know that chronic respiratory diseases are leading causes of mortality around the world. Can SAO, even without ticking all the boxes for a doctor diagnosis of respiratory disease, predict death?<\/p>\n

The big UK Biobank Study: What did we find?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We analysed the data of over 250,000 participants from the UK, who had high quality spirometry, and found some novel results:<\/p>\n