Diagnostic efficacy of digital radiography for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Timely diagnostics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has a significant effect on its course as each subsequent COPD exacerbation inexorably leads to disease progression. The goal of the research was to determine the efficacy of digital radiography in terms of COPD diagnostics. The investigated sample included 316 patients (179 males and 137 females aged 31 to 84 with the average age of 57.5 ± 8.2 years) with COPD of various severity subjected to the comprehensive radiological examination of digital radiography and conventional film-screen chest radiology. Radiographic images were assessed using six main attributes by three expert radiologists. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the methods compared were determined. At the final stage, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted. The sensitivity of digital radiography turned out to be higher by 14 % ( p < 0.05). The significant diagnostic efficacy of digital radiography was also confirmed by higher position of the respective ROC-curve. Digital radiography may act as a standalone tool for early detection of COPD of various severity with reduced radiation burden on a patient.