Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be over-diagnosed among uninsured patients, unnecessarily increasing cost of care, according to a study to be presented at the 2013 American Thoracic Society International Conference.
Researchers examined spirometry results for 80 patients previously diagnosed with COPD at Axess Pointe, a federally funded clinic in Akron, Ohio. Results showed that 42.5 percent of the patients did not have an obstruction, and therefore, did not have COPD. Another 23 percent had an obstruction that was reversible.
"Although the number of patients in our study was small, I believe this study is representative of an uninsured and underserved patient population," said the study's coauthor Christian Ghattas, MD, in a news release.
Because the average cost of treatment for a COPD patient is $4,119 per year, the authors believe that using spirometry to properly diagnose COPD could have a significant impact on a hospital's bottom line.
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Researchers examined spirometry results for 80 patients previously diagnosed with COPD at Axess Pointe, a federally funded clinic in Akron, Ohio. Results showed that 42.5 percent of the patients did not have an obstruction, and therefore, did not have COPD. Another 23 percent had an obstruction that was reversible.
"Although the number of patients in our study was small, I believe this study is representative of an uninsured and underserved patient population," said the study's coauthor Christian Ghattas, MD, in a news release.
Because the average cost of treatment for a COPD patient is $4,119 per year, the authors believe that using spirometry to properly diagnose COPD could have a significant impact on a hospital's bottom line.
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