In Other Journals

A peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) — alone (ie, without spirometry) — is good for detecting patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the community, according to UK researchers. Data from a cross-sectional national survey of 3874 adults aged 50–90 years found that a PEFR of less than 80% detected more than 90% of the subjects with COPD, including all of those with moderate or severe disease. Although sensitive for COPD, it was not as specific; however, many of the false positive results were in smokers.