The optimization of the diagnostic work-up in patients with suspected obstructive lung disease
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pulmonary function testing is a key procedure in the work-up of patients who are suspected of having asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Therein, clinical visits and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are the major contr...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2010-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Pulmonary Medicine |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2466/10/60 |
| _version_ | 1818750937995411456 |
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| author | Janssen Julius P van der Wilt Gert van der Vegt Milena JMM Visser Frank J |
| author_facet | Janssen Julius P van der Wilt Gert van der Vegt Milena JMM Visser Frank J |
| author_sort | Janssen Julius P |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pulmonary function testing is a key procedure in the work-up of patients who are suspected of having asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Therein, clinical visits and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are the major contributors to the overall financial costs.</p> <p>The aim of this study was to assess whether a specific diagnostic test protocol contributes to the optimization of the work-up of patients who are suspected of having asthma and COPD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prospective, single-blind, and randomized controlled study was performed. In the control group (CG), all of the PFTs that were ordered by the lung specialist were carried out. In the experimental group (EG), specific PFTs were selected according to our protocol. The primary end point was the total cost of achieving a final diagnosis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One hundred and seventy-nine patients were included into this study: 86 in the CG and 93 in the EG. The mean number of tests to diagnosis was 3.8 in the CG versus 2.9 in the EG (P < 0.001). The mean number of redundant PFTs before diagnosis was 1.2 in the CG versus 0.08 in the EG (P < 0.001). The number of patients who required an additional outpatient visit to complete diagnosis was higher in the CG in comparison to the EG (P = 0.02). The mean cost of work-up per diagnosis was €227 in the CG versus €181 in the EG (P < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In this group of patients with suspected obstructive lung disease, protocol-driven, PFT-based selection is more cost-effective than test selection at the discretion of lung physicians.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T04:27:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bef2d5de23f843df9ab180f04897e263 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2466 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T04:27:37Z |
| publishDate | 2010-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pulmonary Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-bef2d5de23f843df9ab180f04897e2632022-12-21T21:21:04ZengBMCBMC Pulmonary Medicine1471-24662010-11-011016010.1186/1471-2466-10-60The optimization of the diagnostic work-up in patients with suspected obstructive lung diseaseJanssen Julius Pvan der Wilt Gertvan der Vegt Milena JMMVisser Frank J<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pulmonary function testing is a key procedure in the work-up of patients who are suspected of having asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Therein, clinical visits and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are the major contributors to the overall financial costs.</p> <p>The aim of this study was to assess whether a specific diagnostic test protocol contributes to the optimization of the work-up of patients who are suspected of having asthma and COPD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prospective, single-blind, and randomized controlled study was performed. In the control group (CG), all of the PFTs that were ordered by the lung specialist were carried out. In the experimental group (EG), specific PFTs were selected according to our protocol. The primary end point was the total cost of achieving a final diagnosis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One hundred and seventy-nine patients were included into this study: 86 in the CG and 93 in the EG. The mean number of tests to diagnosis was 3.8 in the CG versus 2.9 in the EG (P < 0.001). The mean number of redundant PFTs before diagnosis was 1.2 in the CG versus 0.08 in the EG (P < 0.001). The number of patients who required an additional outpatient visit to complete diagnosis was higher in the CG in comparison to the EG (P = 0.02). The mean cost of work-up per diagnosis was €227 in the CG versus €181 in the EG (P < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In this group of patients with suspected obstructive lung disease, protocol-driven, PFT-based selection is more cost-effective than test selection at the discretion of lung physicians.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2466/10/60 |
| spellingShingle | Janssen Julius P van der Wilt Gert van der Vegt Milena JMM Visser Frank J The optimization of the diagnostic work-up in patients with suspected obstructive lung disease BMC Pulmonary Medicine |
| title | The optimization of the diagnostic work-up in patients with suspected obstructive lung disease |
| title_full | The optimization of the diagnostic work-up in patients with suspected obstructive lung disease |
| title_fullStr | The optimization of the diagnostic work-up in patients with suspected obstructive lung disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | The optimization of the diagnostic work-up in patients with suspected obstructive lung disease |
| title_short | The optimization of the diagnostic work-up in patients with suspected obstructive lung disease |
| title_sort | optimization of the diagnostic work up in patients with suspected obstructive lung disease |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2466/10/60 |
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