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Respiratory Function
Laboratory, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
Correspondence to: Dr J A Innes A.Innes{at}ed.ac.uk
Received 24 August 2000; Returned to authors 13 November 2000; Revised version received 22 January 2001; Accepted for publication 12 February 2001
BACKGROUND
When
monitoring patients with chronic lung disease it is important to
distinguish genuine changes in gas transfer over time from natural
variability. This study aims to define the coefficient of repeatability
for routine measurements of single breath transfer factor
(TCO) and transfer coefficient (KCO).
METHODSSixty eight
subjects (32 with emphysema, 36 healthy volunteers) had TCO
measured twice at a mean (SD) interval of 7.5 (1.3) days. On each
occasion a standard protocol (conforming to BTS guidelines) was
followed, comprising duplicate measurements satisfying standard
technical criteria. The mean of these duplicates was recorded. For the
pooled data changes in TCO and KCO between
study days were expressed as coefficient of repeatability.
RESULTSThe
coefficient of repeatability was ±1.60 mmol/min/kPa for
TCO and ±0.24 mmol/min/kPa/l for KCO.
Correcting TCO and KCO for prevailing
barometric pressure or carboxyhaemoglobin level made no significant
difference to the results.
CONCLUSIONSThe quoted
limits for variability in gas transfer over time are valid for a wide
range of clinically relevant values. Changes in TCO and
KCO greater than these limits are unlikely to arise from
natural variation.
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