Commentary: Quality of spirometry testing

Spirometry is necessary for the diagnosis and monitoring of both obstructiv e and restrictive lung diseases. To. day, the most rapidly growing health p roblem in the United States is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) . COPD is now the fourth most common cause of death and the only cause of d eath that is rising among the top ten causes. There is also an increasing p revalence of interstitial lung diseases. Both obstructive and interstitial lung diseases are identified and monitored by spirometry.