Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Ta b l e 7 . 5
Biometric and
spirometric parameters of the
COPD patients. Values are
presented as mean
COPD
(47)
standard
deviation; % pred: predicted
according to the
asymptomatic males of the
present study;
VC
:vital
capacity;
FEV
1
: forced
expiratory volume in one
second
±
Female/male
0/47
Age (yrs)
64
±
13
Height (m)
1
.
74
±
0
.
12
Weight (kg)
79
±
12
VC
%pred
84
±
12
FEV
1
%pred
38
±
8
The second adult group was diagnosed with
chronic obstructive pulmonary dis-
ease (COPD)
. COPD is a generic name for any disorder that persistently obstructs
the bronchial air flow [
6
,
64
]. However, it mainly involves two related diseases—
chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Both cause chronic obstruction of air flowing
through the airways and in and out of the lungs. The obstruction is irreversible and
progresses (becomes worse) over the time. Most cases of COPD develop after long-
term exposure to lung irritants that damage the lungs and the airways (e.g. miners,
smoke). Second-hand smoke (i.e. smoke in the air from other people smoking) can
also irritate the lungs and contribute to COPD. Breathing in air pollution and chem-
ical fumes or dust from the environment or workplace also can contribute to COPD.
The COPD group under study consisted of 47 Caucasian patients, diagnosed and
under observation at the “Leon Danielo” Hospital in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The
patients were former coal miners from the Petrosani area in Romania. Their bio-
metric and spirometric parameters are given in Table
7.5
. The measurements were
performed in January 2006, Cluj Napoca, Romania.
The third and last group of adult patients was diagnosed with
kyphoscoliosis
.
Kyphoscoliosis is a disease of the spine and its articulations, mostly beginning in
childhood [
103
]. The deformation of the spine characteristically consists of a lateral
displacement or curvature (scoliosis) or an antero-posterior angulation (kyphosis)
or both (kyphoscoliosis). The angle of the spinal curvature called
the angle of Cobb
determines the degree of the deformity and consequently the severity of the restric-
tion. Severe kyphoscoliosis may lead to respiratory failure, which often needs to be
treated with non-invasive nocturnal ventilation.
This study was approved by the local Ethics Committee of the University Hos-
pital Gent (UZGent) and informed consent was obtained from all volunteers before
inclusion in the study. The study involved nine adults diagnosed with kyphoscoliosis
and their corresponding biometric and spirometric values are given in Table
7.6
.The
measurements were performed during the June 2009-August 2009 time interval.
7.3.2 Healthy vs. COPD
The complex impedance values for the healthy and COPD patients obtained with
(
3.8
) are similar to those presented in Sect. 6.1; the equivalent Bode plots are given
