Misdiagnosis of asthma and COPD and underuse of spirometry in primary care unselected patients

• Published in: Respiratory medicine Vol. 142; pp. 48 - 52
• Main Authors: Heffler, Enrico, Crimi, Claudia, Mancuso, Salvatore, Campisi, Raffaele, Puggioni, Francesca, Brussino, Luisa, Crimi, Nunzio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2018; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Asthma; Asthma - diagnosis; Bronchodilators; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Cohort Studies; COPD; Diagnosis; Diagnostic Errors - statistics & numerical data; Dyspnea; Female; Humans; Inflammatory diseases; Lung diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Misdiagnosis; Obstructive lung disease; Overdiagnosis; Primary care; Primary Health Care; Procedures and Techniques Utilization; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - diagnosis; Respiratory diseases; Respiratory function; Respiratory tract; Respiratory tract diseases; Salbutamol; Software; Spirometry; Spirometry - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult; Italy; Misdiagnosis; Spirometry; Overdiagnosis; Primary care; Asthma; COPD

The diagnosis of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) consists of a combination of classical symptoms and signs, and the evidence of consistent lung function abnormalities. Spiromety has been reported to be underused, possibly for practical difficulties in accessing to a lung...