Precision and accuracy of FEV1 measurements from the Vitalograph copd-6 mini-spirometer in a healthy Ugandan population

Abstract

Objective Evaluate the accuracy and precision of the copd-6 mini-spirometer for FEV1 in a rural Ugandan population. Methods In a cross-sectional study, 171 smallholder farmers performed spirometry with copd-6, and a diagnostic-quality spirometer. Results and discussion The copd-6 underestimated FEV1 at low flows and overestimated FEV1 at high flows. Across all participants, the device slightly overestimated FEV1 by 0.04 [0.02; 0.06] L. Calibration data showed similar patterns. Conclusion The copd-6 could be considered as an affordable tool for research on lung function impairment in resource-constrained settings. However, further validation in a study population with obstructive lung disease is needed.

Pesticide Research on Environmental and Human Exposure and Risks in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Literature Review

“…In the northeastern region of South Africa [ 31 , 32 ] many studies could be linked to the cohort VHEMBE or the cohort “Occupational health needs of women working on small-scale and emerging farms”, and studies were conducted on pesticide use and its health implications also for woman and their children [ 33 , 34 ]. In East Africa, the PESTROP [ 24 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ] and the PEXADU cohorts [ 25 , 40 ] studies in Uganda produced findings on environmental contamination, KAP of pesticide use, and health implications. While other studies focused on water bodies in Kenya [ 41 ].…”