title: Lack of spirometry use in Danish patients initiating medication targeting obstructive lung disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research indicates that a large proportion of patients using medication targeting obstructive lung disease have no history of spirometry testing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the use of spirometry when initiating pulmonary medication targeting obstructive lung disease and to explore possible patient characteristics associated with undergoing spirometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based cohort study. Three Danish National registers were linked enabling a retrieval of data on all primary and secondary healthcare services provided in the time period 2007-2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2008 a total of 40,969 patients were registered as first time users of pulmonary medication targeting obstructive lung disease. The mean age of the study cohort was 55.6 yrs (SD 18.7). Spirometry test had been performed in 20,262 (49.5%) of the study cohort in the period from 6 months before to 12 months after their first prescription. Just above one third of the cohort, 14,275 (34.8%), had undergone spirometry in the two-month period close to redemption of their first prescription. Women and patients in the oldest age categories were less likely to have spirometry performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many patients initiate medication targeting obstructive pulmonary disease without having airway obstruction confirmed through spirometry. Only one third of the study cohort had a spirometry performed when initiating medication and half had still not undergone spirometry after a year. There should be an increased focus on confirming airway obstruction when initiating medication.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9A, 1, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark. mkoefoed@health.sdu.dk
authors.forename: Mette Marie
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Koefoed
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: dePont Christensen
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Søndergaard
authors.forename: Dorte Ejg
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Jarbøl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D019141:Respiratory System Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013147:Spirometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019141:Respiratory System Agents