Small COPD study could have big implications for Advair consumers
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a debilitating and deadly condition that is sometimes treated with Advair and other pharamaceuticals.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a debilitating and deadly condition that is sometimes treated with Advair and other pharamaceuticals. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 15 million Americans had been diagnosed with COPD in 2011, and that it was the third most common cause of death in the United States.
However, a new study revealed that COPD diagnoses might not always be accurate, and that a large number of those who are believed to have the disease might in fact have a different condition of the lungs.
Misdiagnosed COPD?
A study which was explained at the American Thoracic Society's annual meeting in Philadelphia, Penn., revealed that 40 percent of uninsured individuals who have been diagnosed with COPD might not have the disease. The study's authors did not that these findings are not finalized yet, but will be soon following deeper analysis.
Doctors might be straying from the most effective method of identifying the disease, known as spirometry. Instead, professionals might be looking to closely at symptoms and trying to reach a diagnosis in this fashion, which will often lead to confusion with other lung diseases and not give an accurate portrayal of what the patient is in fact experiencing.
"While there have been many studies of the under-diagnosis of COPD, there has not been a U.S.-based study that has quantified the problem of over-diagnosis," Christian Ghattas, M.D., of Saint Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, Ohio, explained. "And yet, the cost of treating someone for COPD is high."
The study's authors noted that the most common symptoms that have led to confusion in the diagnosis process include shortness of breath, sputum production and cough. However, all of these symptoms are relatively normal signs of heart problems, obesity and allergies, despite being associated with COPD.
Researchers believe that the small study, which looked at 80 patients, is indicative of a much larger problem facing the uninsured and underserved population, in which COPD misdiagnosis is most common.
Prevention is key
The CDC explained that COPD can be avoided through a variety of lifestyle choices, such as avoidance of tobacco smoking, air pollutants and more. Additionally, individuals who fear that they have a lung infection should seek treatment as quickly as possible, as this is one of the more common causes of COPD.
Finally, the CDC noted that patients with COPD will often be treated with a combination of pharmaceuticals and therapy.
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