[The role of the pulmonologist in the assessment of disability in patients with respiratory disease].
A high percentage of the individuals who consult respiratory medicine specialists are working adults, and these patients often complain that dyspnea on exertion hinders their ability to do their job. In other cases, patients are referred for assessment by those responsible for evaluating disability. Furthermore, diagnosis of a respiratory disease should be accompanied by a therapeutic regimen which, in addition to pharmacotherapy, should include advice on lifestyle, nutrition, and physical exercise and recommendations on the kind of work the patient can undertake. Pulmonologists are therefore heavily involved in the assessment of disability in patients with respiratory diseases. The aim of this review is to offer respiratory specialists a broad view of the medical and legal procedures used to evaluate functional impairment caused by respiratory disease, and suggest how they can make recommendations to these patients concerning the appropriate working conditions for the prevention and treatment of their disease.
Martínez González
Cristina
C
Servicio de Neumología, Instituto Nacional de Silicosis, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias, España. cmartinez@hca.es
D003663:Decision Trees; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*