Current progress of COPD early detection: Key points and novel strategies

This review examined current challenges and opportunities in the early detection of COPD, including the use of COPD case-finding as an efficient means of identifying at-risk COPD patients. A description of hand-held devices used as case-finding tools was provided (eg peak flow meters and microspirometers), including the Vitalograph COPD-6 device, which the authors noted was an "accurate case-finding tool for identifying COPD which is characterized by small, ease of use, the requirement of less patient effort, and time-saving features".