Abstract:
The diagnosis and management of lung disease includes assessments of lung function. However, using lung function data accurately mandates appropriate and meaningful interpretation of the outcomes that are personalised to the individual patient. For decades it was common for the same lung function result to be interpreted differently depending on the laboratory where the test was done, with wide discrepancies in what was defined as the normal range of values observed in a healthy population. With more than 400 published reference equations characterising how lung function changes with size and age in healthy people, pulmonary function professionals were left with a difficult decision: which reference equation is most appropriate for my population? This lack of standardisation contributes to incorrect diagnosis, with significant economic, health and quality of life consequences. The Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) Network was established to address this very issue, and provides a robust and standardised approach to improve the way in which lung function tests are interpreted around the world. The Network evolved as a result of international collaboration and altruism between researchers, clinicians and industry partners.
The Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) Network ERS Clinical Research Collaboration: how international collaboration can shape clinical practice
The Global Lung Function Initiative is working to improve the interpretation of lung function: an update on current work and the opportunities for further engagement