Background: A simple technique to measure dynamic hyperinflation (DH) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the metronome-paced tachypnea test (MPT). Earlier studies show conflicting results about the accuracy of the MPT compared to cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).
Objectives: The focus was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of MPT to detect DH in a prospective and clinical study.
Methods: COPD patients were included; all underwent spirometry, CPET, and MPT. DH (ΔIC) was calculated as the difference in % between inspiratory capacity (IC) at the start and end of the test divided by IC at the start. A subject was identified as a hyperinflator, if ΔIC (% of ICrest) was smaller than -10.2 and -11.1% in CPET and MPT, respectively. With these values, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Bland-Altman plots were made of ΔIC (% of ICrest).
Results: In the prospective and clinical study, 107 and 48 patients were included, respectively. Sensitivity of the MPT was 85% in both studies. The specificities were 33 and 27%, respectively. In the prospective study, B = +2.6%, L = 30.6, and -25.6%. In the clinical study, B = +0.8%, L = 31.0, and -29.1%.
Conclusion: MPT seems to be a good replacement for CPET in group studies. The mean amount of DH was not different between CPET and MPT. On an individual level, MPT cannot be used to identify hyperinflators; it should be kept in mind that MPT overdiagnoses DH. The amount of DH should not be interchanged between CPET and MPT.
Keywords: COPD; Diagnostic accuracy; Dynamic hyperinflation; Inspiratory capacity; Metronome-paced tachypnea test.
© 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel.