RESUMO
The purpose in this study was to reveal the number of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) among the patients who examined spirometry in Shinshu University Hospital. We prospectively picked up the patients over 40 years of age who showed obstructive ventilatory disturbance on spirometry who examined for about 6 months, and send the results with the comments to introduce the patients to the department of respiratory medicine to the doctors who ordered spirometry. Spirometry was examined in 1,657 patients, and 246 patients (14.8%) who showed their FEV1/FVC < 70%. Among 246 patients, 177 patients were ordered spirometry from the departments (83.6%; pre-operative spirometry) except for respiratory medicine. Seventy-two of 177 patients (40.7%) were introduced to the department of respiratory medicine following the comments, and 43 and 13 patients were diagnosed as COPD and asthma, respectively. These findings suggest that laboratory technologist can contribute to the early intervention of COPD by supporting corporation among departments in hospital.