Forced Oscillation Technique in Advancing Lung Diagnostics Tests

What is the Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT)?

In the face of India’s expanding respiratory health concerns, FOT-based device technologies are emerging as valuable solutions in the fight against lung illnesses. The Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) is at the vanguard of this change, providing a non-invasive and extremely effective way to evaluate respiratory system dynamics.

Millions of people in India suffer from chronic respiratory disorders, including COPD and asthma. In 2016, the country was responsible for 32% of global disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to chronic respiratory disorders, with COPD cases increasing from 28.1 million in 1990 to 55.3 million in 2016. This disturbing trend, exacerbated by air pollution and tobacco use, highlights the critical need for better diagnostic treatments.

FOT has various advantages over regular lung function assessments. It can measure respiratory system resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs) during normal tidal breathing, making it especially useful for patients who struggle with the forced breathing techniques necessary in spirometry. This approach is beneficial for detecting early airway alterations in smokers, measuring respiratory mechanics in children, and evaluating unexplained dyspnea in adults.

FOT Applications in Lung Tests

FOT has demonstrated its utility across various respiratory conditions:

1. Asthma Diagnosis and Management

FOT is particularly valuable in diagnosing and managing asthma, especially in patients with difficulty performing spirometry. It provides crucial airway resistance and reactance information, correlating with asthma severity. The technique is highly sensitive in detecting airway hyperresponsiveness, a key feature of asthma, and is instrumental in monitoring the effectiveness of asthma treatments.

2. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

In COPD, FOT has shown remarkable sensitivity in detecting changes in small airways, often the initial sites of disease manifestation. It can accurately measure airway obstruction and resistance, providing critical information for managing COPD and adjusting treatment plans.

FOT’s ability to detect expiratory flow limitation and functional inhomogeneity in COPD patients makes it a valuable tool for early detection and ongoing management of the disease 

3. Early Detection of Smokers

FOT has proven to be a sensitive diagnostic tool for detecting early respiratory changes in smokers. It can identify small airway changes before they progress to symptomatic COPD, enabling early intervention and potentially altering disease progression.

4. Pediatric Applications

In children, especially those too young to perform spirometry, FOT offers a feasible alternative for assessing lung function. It requires minimal cooperation, making it ideal for diagnosing and managing pediatric asthma and other obstructive lung diseases.

5. Other Respiratory Disorders

FOT has shown promise in diagnosing conditions such as interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary fibrosis, particularly when spirometry is challenging or insufficient for a clear diagnosis.

Why Antlia for Pulmonary Function Tests?

The Antlia Pro, an innovative FOT-based device, demonstrates the technology’s potential in the Indian environment. Its compact and lightweight form makes it extremely portable and suitable for usage in various contexts, including hospitals, clinics, and mobile healthcare camps. This portability is critical in a country where geographical constraints frequently limit access to specialist healthcare treatments.

FOT’s non-invasive nature and sensitivity to minor airway changes make it an effective tool in early disease detection and therapy. As India deals with a high incidence of COPD and asthma, the use of FOT-based devices such as Antlia Pro considerably improves diagnostic capacities, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

In conclusion, as India continues to face significant respiratory health concerns, adopting advanced diagnostic methods like FOT and devices like Antlia Pro represents a promising step toward better lung health outcomes. These technologies can improve respiratory care nationally by providing early detection, precise diagnosis, and effective monitoring.