Development of a diagnostic decision tree for obstructive pulmonary diseases based on real-life data

The aim of this study was to develop and explore the diagnostic accuracy of a decision tree derived from a large real-life primary care population.Data from 9297 primary care patients (45% male, mean age 53±17 years) with suspicion of an obstructive pulmonary disease was derived from an asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) service where patients were assessed using spirometry, the Asthma Control Questionnaire, the Clinical COPD Questionnaire, history data and medication use. All patients were diagnosed through the Internet by a pulmonologist. The Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection method was used to build the decision tree. The tree was externally validated in another real-life primary care population (n=3215).Our tree correctly diagnosed 79% of the asthma patients, 85% of the COPD patients and 32% of the asthma–COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) patients. External validation showed a comparable pattern (correct: asthma 78%, COPD 83%, ACOS 24%).Our decision tree is considered to be promising because it was based on real-life primary care patients with a specialist's diagnosis. In most patients the diagnosis could be correctly predicted. Predicting ACOS, however, remained a challenge. The total decision tree can be implemented in computer-assisted diagnostic systems for individual patients. A simplified version of this tree can be used in daily clinical practice as a desk tool.

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Early detection of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary care patients

Medicinski pregled ◽

10.2298/mpns1302046v ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 66 (1-2) ◽

pp. 46-52 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Marija Vukoja ◽

Predrag Rebic ◽

Zorica Lazic ◽

Marija Mitic-Milikic ◽

Branislava Milenkovic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Primary Care ◽

Pulmonary Disease ◽

General Practitioners ◽

Primary Care Physicians ◽

Smoking History ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Primary Care Patients

Introduction. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are often unrecognized and undertreated. The aim of this study was to describe the frequency of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma in primary care patients in Serbia, and to examine the agreement between general practitioners and pulmonologists on the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Material and Methods. In this multicenter observational study, the general practitioners identified eligible patients from October 2009 to June 2010. The study included all adult patients with respiratory symptoms and/or smoking history based on structured interview. The patients were referred to a pulmonologist and underwent a diagnostic work-up, including spirometry. Results. There were 2074 patients, 38.4% men, their mean age being 54?15.5 years. The patients were mostly current (40.3%) or ex-smokers (27.4%). The common symptoms included shortness of breath (84.9%), cough (79.1%) and wheezing (64.3%). The diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was confirmed by pulmonologists in 454 (21.9%) and asthma in 455 (21.9%) patients. The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was newly diagnosed in 226 (10.9%) and asthma in 269 (13%) of the cases. There was a moderate agreement between the pulmonologists and general practitioners on the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (kappa 0.41, 95%CI 0.36-0.46) and asthma (kappa 0.42, 95% CI 0.37-0.465). Conclusion. A significant number of patients seen in the general practitioner?s office were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma and half of them represent new cases. A substantial proportion of patients referred to a pulmonologist by primary care physicians have been misdiagnosed.

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