Forced Oscillation Technique: A Valuable Diagnostic Tool for Bronchial Asthma in Seniors, Study Finds
Poland: The diagnosis of bronchial asthma in elderly patients presents unique challenges, as traditional spirometry often requires patient cooperation and effort, which may be difficult for some seniors due to age-related limitations. A recent study, published in Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine indicates that the Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) serves as a valuable alternative for diagnosing bronchial asthma in adults over 60.
"Key FOT parameters, such as FEV1, V5, and R5, effectively distinguished asthmatics from non-asthmatics. In bronchial reversibility testing, 73.2% of patients tested positive with FOT, compared to 70.1% with spirometry, with both methods showing agreement in 66% of cases," the researchers reported.
Obstructive pulmonary diseases are frequently underdiagnosed in older adults due to limited access to spirometry and challenges with patient cooperation during testing. FOT is a non-invasive method that assesses respiratory mechanics by measuring the response of the airways to externally applied pressure oscillations during normal breathing. Unlike spirometry, which requires forced expiratory maneuvers, FOT allows for passive testing, making it particularly useful for seniors who may struggle with standard pulmonary function tests.
Against the above background, Martyna Miodońska, Chair of Internal Diseases and Geriatrics, Clinical Department of Internal Diseases, Dermatology and Allergology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland, and colleagues explored the potential of the Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) as a diagnostic tool for detecting bronchial asthma in individuals over 60 years old.
For this purpose, the researchers included 189 patients diagnosed with asthma after age 60, along with a control group of non-asthmatic seniors. All participants underwent spirometry, FOT, and bronchial reversibility testing using both methods. The primary outcomes focused on the correlation between positive results from resting spirometry and FOT in asthmatics, as well as the agreement between reversibility test results across both diagnostic techniques.
Key Findings:
- FOT parameters (FEV1, V5, R5) effectively differentiated asthmatic patients from non-asthmatic patients.
- Positive reversibility test results were observed in 73.2% of patients (71 individuals) using FOT and 70.1% (68 individuals) using spirometry.
- FOT and spirometry aligned in 66% of cases (64 individuals).
"These results underscore the value of FOT, especially in bronchial reversibility testing, for enhancing asthma diagnosis in seniors. FOT provides a practical alternative for patients who struggle with spirometry, meeting a critical need in this age group," the researchers concluded.
Reference:
Miodońska, M., Bożek, A., Urbaniec, E., Mitka, A., & Wasilewska, E. (2025). The usefulness of the forced oscillation technique in the diagnosis of bronchial asthma in seniors. Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/17476348.2025.2461229
