Relationship between sniff nasal inspiratory pressure and BODE index in patients with COPD.

Purpose: The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as defined by the BODE index, and to investigate the capacity of different SNIP cutoffs to predict a BODE index score ≥5 (i.e., worse disease severity).

Spirometry in healthy subjects: do technical details of the test procedure affect the results?

Introduction: Spirometry should follow strict quality criteria. The American Thoracic Society (ATS) recommends the use of a noseclip; however there are controversies about its need. ATS also indicates that tests should be done in the sitting position, but there are no recommendations neither about position of the upper limbs and lower limbs nor about who should hold the mouthpiece while performing the maneuvers: evaluated subject or evaluator.