[Suspicion of COPD--development of an algorithm for stepwise diagnosis in primary care].
The implementation of the disease management programme (DMP) for asthma and COPD in the German health system in 2005 requires an optimal and evidence-based work-up of patients by general practitioners in routine daily practice. The German and international guidelines for COPD do not provide recommendations for a stepwise diagnostic work-up in primary care. Therefore, an evidence-based algorithm was developed for a stepwise diagnosis of COPD and its different stages in general practice, based on national and foreign guidelines that provide specific advice on diagnostic procedures.
Schneider
Antonius
A
Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Sektion Aligemeinmedizin und Versorgungsforschung, Heidelberg. Antonius.Schneider@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Borst
Mathias M
MM
Gerlach
Ferdinand M
FM
Szecsenyi
Joachim
J
D000465:Algorithms; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000592:standards; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011331:Private Practice / Q000592:standards; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care