Dr Steve Holmes and Jane Scullion discuss the  challenges of diagnosing COPD in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic. How can we best pick up those patients who have developed COPD, should we be using spirometry? Grab a coffee, put your feet up and listen in.

Originally presented at the PCRS Respiratory Conference 2021 Gillian Austin presents on "What is Disordered Breathing and How Do You Deal with It?"

Originally presented at the PCRS Respiratory Conference 2021 Dominika Froehlich-Jeziorek presents on "Conducting Virtual Respiratory Reviews in Primary Care and Community"

Originally presented at the PCRS Respiratory Conference 2021 Dr Stephen Gaduzo presents on "How to Spot Interstitial Lung Disease - And What to Do When You Suspect ILD"

Originally presented at the PCRS Respiratory Conference 2021 Jon Bennett and Ren Lawlor present on "Acute Presentation of Respiratory Symptoms in Adults"

In this article produced for Practice Nurse, author, PCRS Chair, Carol Stonham, describes FeNO testing and its role in diagnosing respiratory disease.  She discusses the advantages and limitations of this test. 

Originally presented at the PCRS Respiratory Conference 2020 Dr Glenis Scadding presents One airway: if they're wheezing, are they sneezing too?

Originally presented at the PCRS Respiratory Conference 2020 Frances Barrett presents on "How to assess the acutely breathless patient - making sure we don't miss anything"

Point-of-care testing of C-reactive protein (CRP) for the acute assessment of worsening symptoms in people known to have COPD can safely reduce the use of antibiotics and could help improve the diagnostic approach towards someone presenting in such a crisis.

For over a year many medical tests, including spirometry, have been put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

NCSCT and Public Helth England have announced the resumption of face-to-face stop smoking consultations and carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring. CO monitoring is a valuable motivational tool for smokers.

PCRS has produced a new position statement on spirometry.  In the statement we discuss who should undertake and interpret spirometry and when it should be undertaken, specifically in light in COVID-19 restrictions.  The statement also references primary care network diagnostic hubs.

Spirometry, a test used to measure and monitor lung function, is an important component of the diagnosis, management and monitoring of respiratory conditions in primary care.

Peak flow charting and microspirometry are undervalued in guidelines and were underused in primary care even before the COVID pandemic, but have enhanced importance now given the difficulties with access to more formal respiratory function testing.