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Is screening for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease justified?
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78284, USA. Badgett@UTHSCSA.edu
Preventive Medicine
|July 1, 1997
Summary
Spirometry screening for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) lacks evidence, especially for isolated use in smoking cessation. While some programs show benefits, spirometry alone does not improve quit rates.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Diagnostic Screening
Background:
- Experts recommend spirometry for screening asymptomatic patients for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- The evidence supporting this recommendation has not been systematically reviewed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if screening spirometry meets established criteria for effective screening.
- To assess the efficacy of spirometry in interventions for asymptomatic COPD patients and smoking cessation.
Main Methods:
- Conducted systematic literature searches of MEDLINE and theCITATION index.
- Included randomized trials of COPD interventions in asymptomatic patients.
- Included controlled trials and observational studies on spirometry for smoking cessation.
Main Results:
- Interventions for COPD are proven effective only in symptomatic patients, excluding smoking cessation.
- Multifaceted smoking cessation programs including spirometry showed efficacy in two studies.
- Spirometry as an isolated intervention did not demonstrate effectiveness in smoking cessation.
Conclusions:
- There is no evidence that spirometry, when used alone, assists with smoking cessation.
- The effectiveness of spirometry for COPD screening in asymptomatic individuals requires further investigation.