2, 3 New clinical markers are therefore needed to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments for COPD. 1 Nevertheless, changes in FEV 1 in response to treatment are small in relation to its repeatability. 1 The FEV 1 has been established as the global marker for COPD diagnosis and monitoring. Inter-subject variability was assessed with the coefficient of variation, and intra-subject reliability was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots.ĬOPD is characterized by persistent air-flow limitation that is usually progressive. Normal respiratory sound intensity and mean number of crackles and wheezes were analyzed with validated algorithms. Air flow was recorded with a pneumotachograph.

Respiratory sounds were recorded simultaneously at 7 anatomic locations (trachea and right and left anterior, lateral, and posterior chest).

Part 2 characterized the inter-subject variability and intra-subject reliability of respiratory sounds at each standardized anatomic location, using the most reliable air flow, in a sample of 63 out-patients (67.3 ± 10.4 y old, FEV 1 of 75.4 ± 22.9% of predicted). Part 1 assessed the intra-subject reliability of respiratory sounds at spontaneous and target (0.4–0.6 and 0.7–1 L/s) air flows in 13 out-patients (69.3 ± 8.6 y old, FEV 1 of 70.9 ± 21.4% of predicted).

Pneumonia lung sounds audio