[Profile of a pneumology regional health service]

This study analyzes patient demand in a regional public health pulmonology practice. The following data were recorded for all first-visit patients for a period of two years: age, sex, referral source, initial diagnosis by the referring physician, final diagnosis by the pulmonologist, and destination. The service studied 1,486 patients (men/women: 1.5). Most (71%) were between 40 and 80 years old. Referrals were from the family doctor (60%), health center (9%), emergency service (10%), hospital (12%), other specialists (6%), and others (3%). The most frequent reasons for remission were upper airway disease (UAD) (36%), specifically chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, and the presentation of symptoms (28%) such as dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis and chest pain. Analysis of the final diagnoses for the patients presenting with symptoms showed that no disease could be detected in one third of those with dyspnea and hemoptysis or in half of those who complained of chest pain; acute respiratory infection was diagnosed in 45% of those complaining of persistent cough. UAD was the most frequent cause of symptoms. The index of doctor's visit/inhabitant was 0.97% for patients referred by family doctors and 0.38% for those from health centers, but the initial and final diagnosis profiles of these patients were not statistically different. Patients referred by emergency services had significantly more (p < 0.001) in number of radiological findings and hemoptysis. Those sent from hospitals more often suffered pneumonia. In conclusion, this profile of a regional public health pulmonology practice shows that: 1) UAD and clinical symptoms are the most frequent reasons for patient remission; 2) family doctors generate three times mor demand for services than do health centers, and 3) 14% of patients can be considered normal.