Year in Review: Pulmonary Function Testing.

Abstract

Pulmonary function testing dates back to the 19th century, and the most commonly performed tests pre-date the use of computers. Despite its long and rich history, much is still unknown about how to best perform, interpret, and apply pulmonary function tests. This year-in-review article will discuss recently published papers covering important topics including the performance of lung volume testing, the definition and severity grading of air flow obstruction, the clinical utility of bronchodilator responsiveness, and the use of race-neutral reference equations.