Investigators:

Kenneth Lin, MD

Bradley Watkins, MD

Tamara Johnson, MD, MS

Joy Anne Rodriguez, MD, MPH

Mary B. Barton, MD, MPP

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

540 Gaither Road

Rockville, MD 20850

www.ahrq.gov

AHRQ Publication No. 08-05113-EF-1

March 2008

This report is based on research conducted by the staff of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Rockville, Maryland.

The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the authors, who are responsible for its content, and do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. No statement in this report should be construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The information in this report is intended to help clinicians, employers, policymakers, and others make informed decisions about the provision of health care services. This report is intended as a reference and not as a substitute for clinical judgment.

This report may be used, in whole or in part, as the basis for the development of clinical practice guidelines and other quality enhancement tools, or as a basis for reimbursement and coverage policies. AHRQ or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services endorsement of such derivative products may not be stated or implied.

This document is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted without permission, except for any copyrighted materials noted, for which further reproduction is prohibited without the specific permission of copyright holders.

No investigators have any affiliations or financial involvement (e.g., employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties) that conflict with material presented in this report.

Suggested citation:

Lin K, Watkins B, Johnson T, Rodriguez JA, Barton MB. Screening for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Using Spirometry: Summary of the Evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Evidence Synthesis No. 59. AHRQ Publication No. 08-05113-EF-1. Rockville, Maryland: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, March 2008.

This report was also published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Lin K, Watkins B, Johnson T, Rodriguez JA, Barton MB. Screening for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Using Spirometry: Summary of the Evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med. 2008, 148: 535-543.