Diagnosis and Pharmacotherapy of Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease : The Finnish Guidelines

Peer reviewe

CT Air Trapping Is Independently Associated with Lung Function Reduction over Time

<p>Purpose: We aimed to study the association between lung function decline and quantitative computed tomography (CT) air trapping.</p><p>Materials and Methods: Current and former heavy smokers in a lung cancer screening trial underwent volumetric low-dose CT in inspiration and expiration. Spirometry was obtained at baseline and after 3 years. The expiratory to inspiratory ratio of mean lung density (E/I-ratio(MLD)) was used to quantify air trapping. CT emphysema was defined as voxels in inspiratory CT below -950 Hounsfield Unit. Linear mixed modeling was used to determine the association between CT air trapping and lung function.</p><p>Results: We included 985 subjects with a mean age of 61.3 years. Independent of CT emphysema, CT air trapping was significantly associated with a reduction in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the ratio of FEV1 over the forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC); FEV1 declines with 33 mL per percent increase in CT air trapping, while FEV1/FVC declines 0.58% per percent increase (both p</p><p>Conclusion: In a lung cancer screening cohort, quantitatively assessed air trapping on low-dose CT is independently associated with reduced lung function and accelerated decline of FEV1/FVC.</p>