[Asthma/COPD service in general practice. Study into feasibility and effectiveness]

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Primary Care Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The management of chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD requires effective collaboration between primary and specialist care.
• An integrated service model aims to streamline diagnosis and treatment for patients with airway symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and functioning of a dedicated asthma/COPD (AC) service in the northern Netherlands.
• To assess the impact of specialist-led advice on patient-related outcomes in asthma and COPD management.

Main Methods:

• An observational study analyzing data from 14,748 patients referred to the AC service between 2007 and 2014.
• Patients completed validated questionnaires (CCQ, ACQ) and underwent lung function tests and physical examinations.
• Pulmonologists provided diagnostic and treatment recommendations to general practitioners (GPs) via an information system.

Main Results:

• The AC service diagnosed asthma in 42%, COPD in 19%, and overlap syndrome in 7% of patients.
• Medication changes and reassessment led to significant improvements in COPD control (CCQ score reduction) and asthma control (ACQ score reduction).
• Patients advised for 12-month reassessment showed stable disease with improved smoking status and reduced exacerbations.

Conclusions:

• The integrated AC service effectively managed a significant portion of the regional asthma and COPD population.
• Specialist advice provided through the AC service demonstrably improved patient-related outcomes for both asthma and COPD.