Lung function tests to diagnose COPD can help patients, reduce costs
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) would benefit if pulmonary function testing was used more consistently to diagnose the condition, according to a study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).
COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide and affects more than 10 per cent of adults. Testing airflow with pulmonary function testing is a key tool in diagnosing COPD, but it is underused, with only 30 per cent to 50 per cent of people with physician-diagnosed COPD undergoing testing.
