Spirometry test quality (home vs clinic performance) in a respiratory epidemiology survey in an Italian population sample

Background: European Commission plans to implement Health Interview & Examination Surveys in order to overcome the limitations ofHealth Interview Surveys. Aim: To assess the influence of home location on the spirometry test quality. Methods: A sample of subjects living in Pisa (Central Italy) was selected within IMCA2 (Indicators for Monitoring COPD and Asthma in the EU) project. An questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, respiratory symptoms/ diseases and risk factors was used. The NDD EasyOne Model 2001 was used for spirometry test, at home or in clinic; at the end of the maneuvers the quality grades A/B/C indicated a reliable result, grades D/F indicated inadequate test quality. A logistic regression analysis adjusted for smoking habits, age, sex, season, cardiorespiratory diseases, disability, previous respiratory medical examination and test was run to assess association between inadequate test quality and spirometry test performance location.