Real-Time Measurement of Maximal Voluntary Breath-Holding Time in Patients with Obstructive Ventilatory Defects and Normal Controls

Abstract

Background: Breath-holding test has been tested in some clinical scenarios and has proved to be of clinical utility.Objectives: To determine the maximum voluntary breath-holding time in patients with obstructive ventilator defects and in normal subjects and to correlate the breath-holding times with pulmonary function tests. Methods:We conducted a case-control study including patients with obstructive ventilator defects and a control group consisted of volunteers recruited in the same hospital, with normal spirometry. Spirometry was performed using a computerized spirometer. Breath-holding test was conducted using a pneumotachograph. All measured outputs were displayed in real time on a portable computer. The maximal voluntary apnea inspiratory and expiratory times (MVAIT and MVAET) were measured.Results: A total of 35 patients with obstructive ventilatory defects (18 asthma and 17 COPD) and 16 controls met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. The MVAIT was lower in COPD patients (21.6 ± 12.6 seconds) than in controls (31.5 ± 15.7 seconds) (p=0.049). MVAET was also lower in COPD cases than in controls (16.5 ± 6.0 vs 22.1 ± 7.9; p=0.030). We found positive and significant correlations between MVAIT and FVC (L) (r=0.656; p=0.004) and between MVAIT and FEV 1 (L) (r=0.518; p=0.033) in COPD cases. MVAET was also correlated with FVC (L) (r=0.505; p=0.039) and FEV 1 (L) (r=0.757; p<0.0001).Conclusions: MVAIT and MVAET were significant lower in patients with obstructive ventilatory defects with COPD diagnosis than in controls, and they were correlated positively with FVC and FEV 1 in COPD patients. Our results provide additional evidence of usefulness of MVAIT/MVAET as pulmonary function tests.

Maximal Voluntary Breath-Holding Tele-Inspiratory Test in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…In COPD subjects, even a slight increase in respiratory stimulus may cause a shortening of both the duration of the comfort phase and the duration of total apnea (Nishino, 2009). The mean apnea time reported during our study was 25 ± 8.7 s with values ranging from 10 s to 50 s. This value was not statistically different from that reported by Viecili et al which was 21.6 ± 12.6 s (t = 1.245; p = .214) (Viecili et al, 2012). Maximum apnea time in COPD subjects has been shown to be significantly shorter than in normal subjects (Trembach & Zabolotskikh, 2017).…”

The use of cognitive mobile games to assess the interaction of cognitive function and breath-hold

“…But the VC is significantly smaller in females than in males. The previous study demonstrated links between pulmonary function, breath-holding time and lung volume in apneic divers (Ferretti et al, 2012;Schagatay et al, 2012), however not in healthy subjects at RV (Viecili et al, 2012).…”

Correlating Spirometric Parameters with Breath-Holding Time and Maximum Chest Expansion in Healthy Young Adults

“…Each maneuver was repeated three times and the best (highest) values were considered. 15 Forced spirometry was performed in computerized spirometer (Spiro Excel Machine Spirometer, Medicaid System, Chandigarh, India, 2003). Spirometer was prepared, calibrated, and subject was properly instructed.…”

“…BHT has been found to be well correlated with FEV 1 and magnitude of dyspnea in patients. 10,11 Owing to their simplicity and cost effectiveness, the CE and BHT have been suggested as reasonable alternatives to spirometry in resource-poor settings with the advantage of independence from technician and machine. 12,13 This study aims to verify this claim.…”