Background: Spirometry is a noninvasive and cost-effective physiologic
test that greatly complements other investigative procedures in
evaluation of respiratory conditions. This study was aimed at auditing
the spirometry performed at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital
(UITH) Ilorin, Nigeria, and highlighting some of the challenges
associated with the procedure. Methods: We reviewed and analyzed the
record of spirometry performed at the cardiopulmonary unit of the
hospital from June 2002 to December 2009. Results: A total of 119
patients had spirometry tests from 2002 to 2009 and their age ranged
from 15 to 85 years with a mean of 47.6 \ub1 14.8 years. There were
69 (58%) males and the male:female ratio was 1.4:1. More than half
(65%) of the tests were in patients <50 years old. The rate of
spirometry performed annually increased from 12 (10.1%) in 2002 to 31
(26.1%) in year 2009. Evaluation of bronchial asthma was the most
common indication for spirometry (43 patients; 36.1%). Majority of the
requests (84 patients; 70.6%) were from adult respiratory physicians.
The identified challenges were lack of awareness of the range of
diseases that could be investigated by spirometry, lack of skills in
interpreting the results, lack of time and delays in replacing
exhausted consumables and faulty components of spirometer. Conclusion:
Gradually, the trend of spirometry request is increasing in UITH;
however, a wider acceptability could be achieved for this test by
raising the level of awareness and improving the skills of all doctors
on the usefulness and interpretation of spirometry.Arri\ue8re-plan: Spirom\ue9trie est un test physiologique invasive
et rentable qui compl\ue8te consid\ue9rablement les autres
proc\ue9dures d\u2019enqu\ueate dans l\u2019\ue9valuation des
conditions respiratoires. Cette \ue9tude visait \ue0 la
spirom\ue9trie effectu\ue9e \ue0 l\u2019Universit\ue9 de
l\u2019h\uf4pital d\u2019enseignement Ilorin (UITH) Ilorin,
Nigeria, l\u2019audit et de mettre en \ue9vidence certains des
d\ue9fis li\ue9s \ue0 la proc\ue9dure. M\ue9thodes: Nous a
examin\ue9 et analys\ue9 l\u2019enregistrement de spirom\ue9trie
effectu\ue9e \ue0 l\u2019unit\ue9 de l\u2019h\uf4pital de
juin 2002 \ue0 d\ue9cembre 2009 de cardio-pulmonaires.
R\ue9sultats: Un total de 119 patients avait spirom\ue9trie tests
depuis 2002 pour 2009 et leur \ue2ge variait de 15 \ue0 85 ans avec
une moyenne de 47.6 \ub1 14,8 ans. Il y avait des hommes (58%) 69 et
le ratio hommes: femmes \ue9tait 1.4:1. Plus de la moiti\ue9 (65%)
des tests \ue9taient chez les patients < \ue2g\ue9 de 50 ans.
Le taux de spirom\ue9trie effectu\ue9e annuellement une
augmentation de 12 (10,1%) en 2002 \ue0 31 (26,1%) dans
l\u2019ann\ue9e 2009. \uc9valuation de l\u2019asthme bronchique
indiquait la plus commune pour la spirom\ue9trie (43 patients;
36,1%). La majorit\ue9 des demandes (84 patients; 70,6%) \ue9taient
des m\ue9decins respiratoires adultes. Les d\ue9fis identifi\ue9s
\ue9taient le manque de connaissance de la plage de maladies qui
pourraient \ueatre \ue9tudi\ue9s par la spirom\ue9trie, manque
de comp\ue9tences dans l\u2019interpr\ue9tation des
r\ue9sultats, le manque de temps et de retards dans le remplacement
des consommables \ue9puis\ue9s et composants d\ue9fectueuses de
Spirom\ue8tre. Conclusion: Progressivement, la tendance de la demande
de la spirom\ue9trie augmente dans UITH; toutefois, une plus large
acceptabilit\ue9 pourrait \ueatre obtenue pour ce test par
\ue9lever le niveau de sensibilisation et d\u2019am\ue9lioration
des comp\ue9tences de tous les m\ue9decins sur l\u2019utilit\ue9
et l\u2019interpr\ue9tation de la spirom\ue9trie