[Prevalence of respiratory symptoms. Currently available data on German practices].
Respiratory symptoms and lung function impairment as an expression of COPD are frequent in Germany. The symptoms, especially dyspnea, correlate only moderately with the degree of functional impairment. In contrast to the actual GOLD guidelines, in general practices the therapy is based on symptoms rather than on lung function, resulting in an undertreatment of asymptomatic patients. Therefore, increasing utilization of spirometry in practices is to demand; on the other hand respiratory symptoms should gain a greater significance in the GOLD guidelines, also against the background of disease-related costs.
Magnussen
Helgo
H
Krankenhaus Grosshansdorf, Zentrum für Pneumologie und Thoraxchirurgie, Schleswig-Holstein-Universität, Grosshansdorf. magnussen@pulmoresearch.de
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000322:Adrenergic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013147:Spirometry
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000322:Adrenergic Agonists; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents