Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Forced vital capacity (FVC) is an important tool for monitoring lung functions in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, several disease manifestations may influence the quality of FVC test in SSc. We aimed to assess the quality of FVC measurements according to current guidelines in patients with SSc and determine the factors that may affect results.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, SSc patients and age/sex matched controls underwent spirometry. Quality of FVC measurements were graded according to updated American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines. Demographics, clinical features and parameters that may affect FVC test quality were compared between SSc patients with high and low quality FVC test.
RESULTS: 98 SSc patients (90 female) and 100 controls were included. The rate of high quality FVC measurement in SSc patients was significantly lower in SSc patients compared to controls. (80 % vs 60.2 % p = 0.002). Among SSc patients; diffuse disease, ILD, anti-topoisomerase 1 antibody positivity, immunosuppressive use, flexion contractures of hands, reduced mouth opening and decreased chest expansion were more frequent in patients with low quality FVC (p < 0.05 for all). Patients with muscle weakness and medium/high risk of malnutrition were also numerically higher in low quality FVC group. Presence of more than one condition that may affect FVC quality was significantly higher among patients with low quality FVC.
CONCLUSIONS: A significant percent of SSc patients had low quality FVC measurement. Physicians should be aware of this point while interpreting FVC test results especially in SSc patients with more than one condition that may affect the quality of the test.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, SSc patients and age/sex matched controls underwent spirometry. Quality of FVC measurements were graded according to updated American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines. Demographics, clinical features and parameters that may affect FVC test quality were compared between SSc patients with high and low quality FVC test.
RESULTS: 98 SSc patients (90 female) and 100 controls were included. The rate of high quality FVC measurement in SSc patients was significantly lower in SSc patients compared to controls. (80 % vs 60.2 % p = 0.002). Among SSc patients; diffuse disease, ILD, anti-topoisomerase 1 antibody positivity, immunosuppressive use, flexion contractures of hands, reduced mouth opening and decreased chest expansion were more frequent in patients with low quality FVC (p < 0.05 for all). Patients with muscle weakness and medium/high risk of malnutrition were also numerically higher in low quality FVC group. Presence of more than one condition that may affect FVC quality was significantly higher among patients with low quality FVC.
CONCLUSIONS: A significant percent of SSc patients had low quality FVC measurement. Physicians should be aware of this point while interpreting FVC test results especially in SSc patients with more than one condition that may affect the quality of the test.
摘要：
背景：强迫肺活量（FVC）是监测系统性硬化症（SSc）患者肺功能的重要工具。然而,几种疾病表现可能会影响SSc中FVC测试的质量。我们旨在根据当前指南评估SSc患者的FVC测量质量，并确定可能影响结果的因素。
方法：在这项横断面研究中，SSc患者和年龄/性别匹配的对照进行肺活量测定。FVC测量的质量根据更新的美国胸科学会(ATS)和欧洲呼吸学会(ERS)指南进行分级。人口统计,对FVC检验质量高和低质量的SSc患者的临床特征和可能影响FVC检验质量的参数进行了比较.
结果：98例SSc患者（90例女性）和100例对照。SSc患者的高质量FVC测量率明显低于对照组。(80%vs60.2%p=0.002)。在SSc患者中；弥漫性疾病，ILD,抗拓扑异构酶1抗体阳性，免疫抑制使用，手屈曲挛缩，低质量FVC患者的张口减少和胸部扩张减少更为常见（均p<0.05）。在低质量FVC组中，肌肉无力和营养不良的中/高风险患者的数量也较高。在低质量FVC患者中，可能影响FVC质量的多种疾病的存在显着升高。
结论：有显著百分比的SSc患者具有低质量的FVC测量。医生在解释FVC测试结果时应该意识到这一点，尤其是在SSc患者中，这些患者可能会影响测试质量。
方法：在这项横断面研究中，SSc患者和年龄/性别匹配的对照进行肺活量测定。FVC测量的质量根据更新的美国胸科学会(ATS)和欧洲呼吸学会(ERS)指南进行分级。人口统计,对FVC检验质量高和低质量的SSc患者的临床特征和可能影响FVC检验质量的参数进行了比较.
结果：98例SSc患者（90例女性）和100例对照。SSc患者的高质量FVC测量率明显低于对照组。(80%vs60.2%p=0.002)。在SSc患者中；弥漫性疾病，ILD,抗拓扑异构酶1抗体阳性，免疫抑制使用，手屈曲挛缩，低质量FVC患者的张口减少和胸部扩张减少更为常见（均p<0.05）。在低质量FVC组中，肌肉无力和营养不良的中/高风险患者的数量也较高。在低质量FVC患者中，可能影响FVC质量的多种疾病的存在显着升高。
结论：有显著百分比的SSc患者具有低质量的FVC测量。医生在解释FVC测试结果时应该意识到这一点，尤其是在SSc患者中，这些患者可能会影响测试质量。
