The puzzles of lung function interpretation

What is it about?

The publication of the recent ATS/ERS technical document on lung function interpretation marks a fundamental step in respiratory medicine that consolidates the scientific work initiated in 1983 and regularly updated over the next years up to now. Yet, examining the current reality, one cannot fail to notice stark contrasts between the interpretative strategies recommended by experts of lung function and current international documents on respiratory diseases produced by more clinically oriented committees. Non-univocal criteria for definition of abnormalities are clearly a serious source of confusion, particularly if official journals of major respiratory societies publish documents clearly contrasting with the official statements of their own societies. We believe that opening a frank discussion within the ERS journal is an ethical and scientific duty of the society before it is going to be too late to offer the best medical service to our patients and scientific community.

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