hengityskeskus

Hengityskeskus, literally meaning breathing or respiratory center in Finnish, is a term used in Finland to describe clinics or hospital units that specialize in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the respiratory system, as well as related rehabilitation. These centers may operate within university hospitals, general hospitals or as private clinics. They serve patients with chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung diseases, and those with sleep-disordered breathing, infections, occupational lung diseases, or post-acute and post-ICU respiratory problems.

Typical services offered by hengityskeskus include diagnostic testing such as spirometry, lung diffusion capacity testing, body plethysmography and arterial blood gas analysis, along with imaging and sometimes bronchoscopy. In many centers, sleep medicine services are provided, including overnight polysomnography and CPAP titration. Treatment and management may involve inhaled medications, supplementary oxygen therapy, non-invasive ventilation, and pulmonary rehabilitation. Patient education, smoking cessation support and vaccination guidance are commonly provided to promote self-management and preventive care.

Settings and staff generally include pulmonologists or chest physicians, respiratory nurses, physiotherapists, other rehabilitation professionals, and pharmacists. Hengityskeskus can be located in public hospitals, university clinics or private centers, and they typically collaborate with primary care providers to coordinate referrals and ongoing care. The concept reflects a broad approach to respiratory health common in Finnish healthcare and aligns with international pulmonology and sleep medicine practices.

See also: pulmonology, sleep medicine, pulmonary rehabilitation.