title: New diagnoses in a specialty clinic: opportunities for consultants.
abstract: The role consultants play in detecting disease coincidental to the reason for consultation is unclear. We sought to elucidate this function in the setting of a specialty clinic for osteoporosis. Making no specific attempt to screen for general conditions, we evaluated 760 women; any new diagnosis was found in the course of thoroughly examining the patient for osteoporosis. A total of 274 new diagnoses were counted, encompassing 68 conditions. There were 211 women (28%) in whom a new diagnosis was detected; a higher percentage of older women than younger women had a new diagnosis. A diagnosis severity grouping scheme was devised, groups C and D being those in which further evaluation was clearly indicated. The diagnoses in groups C and D accounted for 70% of all new diagnoses made, suggesting that trivial conditions were not overrepresented. The history and physical examination alone was responsible for 50% of the various conditions diagnosed and 64% of the total number of new diagnoses. The consultant has an excellent opportunity to detect disease while performing a specialty consultation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Lukert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003933:Diagnosis; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri; D010024:Osteoporosis; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*