Point of care microspirometry to facilitate the COPD diagnostic process in primary care: a clustered randomised trial

Point of care microspirometry to facilitate the COPD diagnostic process in primary care: a clustered randomised trialPoint of care microspirometry to facilitate the COPD diagnostic process in primary care: a clustered randomised trial, Published online: 22 May 2018; doi:10.1038/s41533-018-0083-9A quick, simple test that can be used by family doctors may help identify patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The small, inexpensive microspirometry (MI) kit enables doctors conducting routine appointments to measure the volume of air expelled from patients’ lungs. Lisette van den Bemt at Radboud University Medical Center, the Netherlands, and co-workers worked with two groups of doctors in local practices. Both groups were asked to identify patients over 50 with a smoking history, respiratory problems and no diagnose of asthma and COPD, and start a diagnostic process for COPD. One group was given microspirometers to aid diagnoses. Of 192 patients visiting the MI doctors, 78 were identified and 77 per cent were later listed as COPD or COPD was ruled out. In the other group, 61 out of 224 patients were identified with only 44 per cent listed.

Source: npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine - May 22, 2018 Category: Primary Care Authors: Tjard R. Schermer Maria Vatsolaki Robbert Behr Joke Grootens Riet Cretier Reinier Akkermans Joke Denis Patrick Poels Lisette van den Bemt Source Type: research