ABSTRACT
Spirometry is a non-invasive tool of importance in respiratory medicine. There is an enormous burden ofpulmonary disease worldwide, including in Nigeria.This retrospective study was done to determine the utilisation of spirometry services in the Lagos StateUniversity Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). It determined the sources of referral, indications, and pattern of pulmonary abnormalities.This is a retrospective study. An audit was done on the data collected at the Pulmonary Function Laboratory of the LASUTH between September 2006 and October 2011. Spirometry was done using the Gold Standard Vitalograph spirometer. The demographic characteristics of the patients who had spirometry as well as FEV1, (forced expiratory volume in 1 second)FVC (forced vital capacity), and their predicted values were noted.A total of 849 patients had spirometry done over the 5-year period. Slightly more than half were male patients. The mean age of the patient was 50±19 years. There was a steady increase in the number of spirometry tests performed from 2006 reaching a peak in 2009. Thereafter, a sharp decline was seen in 2010 with a steady rise in the first 10 months of 2011.The most common indication for spirometry was in the evaluation and assessment of asthma in 487 patients (57%). Most of the referrals for spirometry were from the medical department of the hospital representing 532 (63%) patients; 202 (24%) of the request were from the general out-patient department by family physicians, while 115 (13%) came from the surgical department. The outcome of the ventilatory abnormalities showed that 372 (44%) had normal ventilatory indices, 206 (24%) had obstructive patterns,169 (20%) had mixed type, while restrictive patterns were seen in 102 (12%).We concluded that although spirometry is frequently used in our clinical practice, this can be improved upon