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The use of computer aided lung sound analysis to characterise lung sounds in a healthy population

The use of computer aided lung sound analysis to characterise lung sounds in a healthy population
The use of computer aided lung sound analysis to characterise lung sounds in a healthy population
Introduction: Computer aided lung sound analysis (CALSA) objectively manages lung sound data recorded via a digital stethoscope. Historically it has been assumed that crackles heard on auscultation are indicative of lung pathology; however, there is some limited evidence that crackles may be heard in healthy lungs. The purpose of this study was to use CALSA to confirm whether crackles are present in the healthy population.
Methods: One hundred healthy participants were recruited. A digital stethoscope connected to a laptop was used to record lung sounds at seven different locations across the chest wall; participants were seated and mouth breathing at volumes slightly deeper than normal. Lung sound data were analysed by time expanded waveform analysis.
Results: Crackles were identified in all participants at all locations across the chest wall. Mean initial deflection width (IDW) across all locations was 2.18±0.62ms. Mean two cycle deflection (2CD) duration (13.90±2.27ms) indicated that coarse crackles were present. A negative correlation between increasing age and increasing 2CD duration was found at all locations, however only two reached statistical significance (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Crackles are identifiable in the lungs of healthy individuals, when breathing open-mouthed at slightly deeper than normal volumes. Crackle parameters are not significantly related to age in a healthy population. The presence of crackles during auscultation does not necessarily indicate an underlying lung pathology, so clinicians should not make this assumption on hearing these adventitious sounds.
Bruton, A.
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Marques, A.
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Mahoney, K.
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Kolstoe, K.
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Moss, R.
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Thomas, S.
0f83004b-179e-4b71-8374-25345d0e9dad
Beverley, Z.
8fa9bc0b-d16e-414c-89aa-4f9f7a2da11a
Bruton, A.
9f8b6076-6558-4d99-b7c8-72b03796ed95
Marques, A.
d8990c23-6d85-4379-ae44-01002b5b9cd4
Mahoney, K.
77fa3341-4e90-4e02-8a30-28217beb8c97
Kolstoe, K.
38d4f5bc-e8d3-4cf3-944a-814311ddc645
Moss, R.
74fc9f8e-60c5-49bb-be5d-a325b5bf896c
Thomas, S.
0f83004b-179e-4b71-8374-25345d0e9dad
Beverley, Z.
8fa9bc0b-d16e-414c-89aa-4f9f7a2da11a

Bruton, A., Marques, A., Mahoney, K., Kolstoe, K., Moss, R., Thomas, S. and Beverley, Z. (2009) The use of computer aided lung sound analysis to characterise lung sounds in a healthy population. European Respiratory Society Annual Congress, Vienna, Austria. 11 - 15 Sep 2009.

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Poster)

Abstract

Introduction: Computer aided lung sound analysis (CALSA) objectively manages lung sound data recorded via a digital stethoscope. Historically it has been assumed that crackles heard on auscultation are indicative of lung pathology; however, there is some limited evidence that crackles may be heard in healthy lungs. The purpose of this study was to use CALSA to confirm whether crackles are present in the healthy population.
Methods: One hundred healthy participants were recruited. A digital stethoscope connected to a laptop was used to record lung sounds at seven different locations across the chest wall; participants were seated and mouth breathing at volumes slightly deeper than normal. Lung sound data were analysed by time expanded waveform analysis.
Results: Crackles were identified in all participants at all locations across the chest wall. Mean initial deflection width (IDW) across all locations was 2.18±0.62ms. Mean two cycle deflection (2CD) duration (13.90±2.27ms) indicated that coarse crackles were present. A negative correlation between increasing age and increasing 2CD duration was found at all locations, however only two reached statistical significance (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Crackles are identifiable in the lungs of healthy individuals, when breathing open-mouthed at slightly deeper than normal volumes. Crackle parameters are not significantly related to age in a healthy population. The presence of crackles during auscultation does not necessarily indicate an underlying lung pathology, so clinicians should not make this assumption on hearing these adventitious sounds.

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More information

Published date: 2009
Venue - Dates: European Respiratory Society Annual Congress, Vienna, Austria, 2009-09-11 - 2009-09-15

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 66383
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/66383
PURE UUID: c80c8c1e-71b4-45ff-a385-4d07705d83e2
ORCID for A. Bruton: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4550-2536

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Date deposited: 04 Feb 2010
Last modified: 11 Dec 2021 03:06

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Contributors

Author: A. Bruton ORCID iD
Author: A. Marques
Author: K. Mahoney
Author: K. Kolstoe
Author: R. Moss
Author: S. Thomas
Author: Z. Beverley

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