UK scientists develop easy breath test for early lung disease detection

Researchers in the UK have developed a simple breathing test that can help healthcare workers detect lung diseases early.

The researchers at the University of Oxford announced the new testing method on 25 September, saying it could detect asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) earlier, more accurately, and closer to home.

Ultimately, the team hopes to make the test widely available to help reduce hospital visits and tackle health inequalities.

Tackling respiratory dieseases

Chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and (COPD) affect more than half a billion people worldwide and cause over four million deaths every year, affecting mostly the less privileged.

However, there are no reliable ways to quickly test for the diseases and provide timely treatment. 

Healtcare workers currently rely on a test called spirometry, whcih measures how much air a person can forcefully breathe out.

Many patients are unable to perform the test and the method picks up the diseases mostly after much irreversible damage has already been done.

The new test known as computed cardiopulmonography (CCP) comes as a long-awaited solution that requires a patient to just breathe normaly for 12 minutes through a mouthpiece linked to a highly accurate gas analyser.

Scientists then measure the pattern of air flow through the gas analyser against a standard and can tell if there is any deviation which suggests disease that spirometry can’t detect.

Early tests have been conducted in people with asthma, COPD, and even in otherwise healthy smokers and CCP proves to be highly sensitive in detecting airways damage.

The catch

Though the test shows much promise, the team says it currently takes too long and requires specialist gas supplies, which makes it impractical for use in hospitals and research labs.

This defeats the goal which is to adapt CCP for community use, for instance in GP surgeries, pharmacies, and community diagnostic hubs.

Therefore, they will work towards cutting down the time and volume of gas required for each test and ensure faster analys to make results available on the same appointment.