Publications by authors named "Lesley Blaikie"
Article Synopsis
- Handheld spirometry allows for at-home monitoring of lung function, which became particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its accuracy compared to clinic-based spirometry in children remains uncertain.
- A study analyzed paired forced expiratory volume (FEV) readings from 67 participants aged 6 years and older, revealing that home spirometry often produced lower results and had moderate variability during periods of clinical stability.
- The findings suggest that home spirometry cannot replace clinic spirometry in children, especially as new handheld devices may underread results, indicating the need for dual measurements in clinical settings to improve the accuracy of home data trends.
Cystic fibrosis is a life-limiting, inherited, multi-organ disease which affects many systems of the body. Until recently, treatments were only able to ameliorate symptoms, but the introduction of precision medications which modulate the underlying defect in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator () gene has changed this. Notably improvements in nutrition and lung function, reduced use of antibiotics and reduced occupation rates for hospital beds have been seen.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Most people with COVID-19 self-manage at home. However, the condition can deteriorate quickly, and some people may develop serious hypoxia with relatively few symptoms. Early identification of deterioration allows effective management with oxygen and steroids.
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