Asthma bus tests for lung damage

By ANGELA GREGORY

A breath-testing bus roaming New Zealand streets is catching smokers, not boozers.

The ANZ asthma bus has been on the road throughout the country for more than a year now, offering lung function tests to people over 20 years of age.

The bright blue bus has also visited schools to educate students about asthma.

Asthma New Zealand executive officer Gerry Hanna said a surprising number of young adults in their twenties were showing early loss of lung function.

Of the 800 adults who had had a spirometry test, one-third had shown mild to severe lung function loss.

Mr Hanna said the test involved blowing into a disposable mouthpiece, which was linked to a laptop computer to get an accurate reading of lung function.

Those with any loss of lung function were referred to their doctor.

This was because their condition could indicate asthma, chest infections or, in severe cases, irreversible damage such as emphysema, also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Mr Hanna said the results were pessimistic and could be directly linked to smoking.

Many of the adults using the bus service said they could not afford doctor visits, he said. But the nurse educators on board were not able to make diagnoses or offer prescriptions.

Asthma Auckland nurse educator Theresa Meads said special testing was necessary to establish the underlying reason for loss of lung function.

Severe lung function loss in older people could be the long-term effect of poorly controlled asthma or smoking, she said.

The asthma bus will run until November.

And, from now on, it will concentrate on school visits.

Theresa Meads said schools the bus visited were telling the nurse educators they did not know enough about asthma.

"They have no idea if the children with puffers are using them properly."

Principals also were concerned that asthma was interfering with children's learning.

nzherald.co.nz/health