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Why hasn’t spirometry caught on?
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Spirometry is the only recognized method to definitively diagnose COPD. So why isn't it used more? Discover the consequences of not using spirometry and the benefits you can expect from making it your standard practice.
Spirometry is currently the only recognized method of definitively diagnosing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).1 It also gives patients and physicians a reliable way of tracking the progression of the disease. But there’s a problem—spirometry is severely undervalued and underutilized.1 Let’s take a look at what’s causing low usage, the consequences, and how your team can create amazing value by making spirometry your diagnostic standard.
According to Christine Cunningham, RRT, a big cause of low spirometry usage is low awareness. This can lead to limited knowledge about the benefits of spirometry and, more importantly, limited ability to manage COPD. Consider this cascade of negative results:
You see all the press and campaigns related to heart disease and pre-screening and early detection. Same with breast cancer. You don't have that level of awareness as it relates to properly diagnosing COPD — we don't talk about spirometry."
- Becky Anderson, RRT
Manager, Respiratory Care Services, Sanford Medical Center
This lack of awareness and training may cause physicians to avoid spirometry and diagnose COPD strictly based on symptoms. This leads to further challenges:
There is a paper coming out where we looked at symptoms, and shockingly, symptoms are just not useful in diagnosing COPD because people don’t complain about symptoms.”
We wouldn’t diagnose hypertension without taking a blood pressure.”
- Becky Anderson, RRT
Manager, Respiratory Care Services, Sanford Medical Center
We investigated, ‘Why aren’t you doing this?’ They said, ‘Well, we don’t feel comfortable doing it.’”
- Brian Carlin, MD, FCCP, FAARC
Critical Care Staff Physician Altoona Regional Health System
References: 1. Spirometry Touted as Best Way to Accurately Diagnose COPD. U.S. Medicine Web site.
http://www.usmedicine.com/agencies/department-of-defense-dod/spirometry-touted-as-best-way-to-accurately-diagnose-copd/ Accessed October 23, 2016. 2. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. https://www.cdc.gov/copd/index.html
Accessed November 14, 2016. 3. Chronic Obstructive Pumonary Disease (COPD): Screening. U.S. Prentive Services Task Force Web site. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/RecommendationStatementFinal/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd-screening Updated March 2008. Accessed December 5, 2016. 4. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology Web site. http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/related-conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease Accessed December 5, 2016. 5. Petty T, Enright P. Simple Office Spirometry for Primary Care Practitioners. National Lung Health Education Program. 1-42. http://www.nlhep.org/Documents/simple_office_spirometry.pdf 6. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Medscape Web site. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/297664-overview Accessed December 6, 2016.
