title: [Early diagnosis of COPD is important and possible].
abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is substantially underdiagnosed and under treated. The present review paper discusses the possibilities of early diagnosis by means of spirometry in the setting of Danish general practice. It is concluded that case finding of undiagnosed COPD is feasible by applying opportunistic spirometry in patients with relevant exposures and relevant respiratory symptoms. The potential barriers of this approach and possible solutions are discussed.
authors: Afdeling for Social Medicin, Institut for Folkesundhedsvidenskab, Københavns Universitet, Denmark. plange@dadlnet.dk
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Lange
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Søndergaard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D013147:Spirometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data