There is constant mention of peak flow in COPD diagnosis or treatment can we have a definitive answer as my respiratory nurse tells me they are for Asthma only.
A definitive answer: There is constant... - Lung Conditions C...
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Peak flow, as far as I am aware is predominantly used for asthma as it measures the speed one can expire air
It is the FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC ratio that are the most relevant readings for COPD
To my knowledge, the FEV1/FVC ratio is what is used to diagnose COPD, the FEV1 is what they use to then diagnose the stage it is at
Do ring the helpline to ask though, they will help you with it 03000 030 555
A think you need a sats meter .. I think uour o2 levels are more inportant than FEV or FVC
I was going to say the helpline, before they close for the weekend at 6pm today.
Some GP's use Peak Flow as a measurement of COPD, try telling them they are doing it wrong and they get shirty... 
Oops - that shot off before I'd finished really...
Looking at patient.co.uk/health/spirom..., they say
"Is spirometry the same as peak flow readings?
No. A peak flow meter is a small device that measures the fastest rate of air that you can blow out of your lungs. Like spirometry, it can detect airways narrowing. It is more convenient than spirometry and is commonly used to help diagnose asthma. Many people with asthma also use a peak flow meter to monitor their asthma. For people with COPD, a peak flow reading may be useful to give a rough idea of airways narrowing, but it can underestimate the severity of COPD. Therefore, spirometry is a more accurate test for diagnosing and monitoring people with COPD."
I tend to check my peak flow now and again just to monitor myself, if it drops then I can usually expect other problems to flare up pretty quickly.
DEFINITIVE EXPLANATION OF COPD blf.healthunlocked.com/blog...
Peak expiratory flow meters only measure airflow from the UPPER LARGE AIRWAYS . This makes them pretty much irrelevant in copd, which is a disease of the SMALL AIRWAYS. A pef reading would significantly and seriously underestimate the extent of airflow obstruction in a person with copd, although it might have some use for a person who has a large asthma component . Furthermore, there is minimal day to day variation of peak flow rate in copd, whereas such variations are a distinguishing factor in asthma.
(excuse use of upper case letters - would have used italics if available).
in reply to
..or to put it another way (one I wrote few years ago elsewhere)...
Peak Flow Meters only give information about narrowing of the larger airways therefore it can't give true evidence of copd. Copd is mainly about narrowing of medium and small airways, and damage to alveoli etc.
Peak Flow is meant for Asthma , which is mainly due to allergic type response that results in constriction of large airways. Some people with COPD may be given Peak Flow Meters if it suspected that they have a large asthma component as well as a level of 'true' copd.
To further complicate matters there are a number of different models of Peak Flow Meter with different numerical guages along the side. So, for example a score of 90 on one meter may be the same as a score of say, 250 on another. A very silly state of affairs if you ask me!
Link to Wikipedia peak flow en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_... if there is a definitive answer it will be from the BLF as always 
Hi Bungle,
Spirometry is the test which measures severity of copd through various measurements; FEV1 (forced expiration in one second) is the main one and the result is given as a volume of air in litres, and as a percentage of what would be normal for someone with healthy lungs.
However as the functioning of people with the same FEV1 can vary quite a lot, many consultants will use the BODE index - this measures FEV1, dyspnea (breathlessness), BMI and the six minute walk test. You can read about it here:
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