Welcome to Health Care POV | sign in | join | help
in Search

April 14

Last post 04-08-2008, 1:50 PM by Marie DeLisi. 1 replies.
Previous Discussion Next Discussion Sort Posts:
  •  04-08-2008, 1:49 PM

    April 14

    I read in the April 14 cover story that experts offered a pro/con as to whether spirometry should be done in primary care offices.

    What do you think?  And which patients should be the focus?

     

  •  04-08-2008, 1:50 PM

    Re: April 14

    COPD is under diagnosed but there's no way to test the more than 60 million current smokers. There's even additional former smokers who aren't included in that number who have the disease already.

    A doctor should ask questions to determine if a patient is experiencing airway obstruction and only then perform a test confirm. Otherwise, many patients will simply receive a "normal" spirometry reading and continue right on smoking.