Challenges and the Future of Pulmonary Function Testing in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Toward Earlier Diagnosis of COPD

In the field of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is growing interest in methods for early detection with the goal of altering disease progression. At the same time, pulmonary function test (PFT) remains central to the diagnosis and management of COPD. Yet, spirometry remains underused, particularly in primary care, contributing to the underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis of COPD. Challenges hindering more aggressive use of spirometry include a lack of access in primary care clinics or public venues, the complexity of performing spirometry and a lack of comfort with interpretation. Enhancing PFT utilization will require new approaches including broadening availability and adopting different approaches to interpretation.