What did the research discover?
Many people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma don’t know they have it, so they aren’t getting the right treatment. This study looked for adults in the community who had breathing problems but no diagnosis to see if early treatment could improve their health and reduce their need for medical care.
Researchers interviewed 38,353 adults and found 595 people with undiagnosed COPD or asthma. Of these, 508 participants were randomly placed into two groups: 253 people received care from a lung specialist (pulmonologist) and an asthma–COPD educator, while 255 people continued seeing their regular doctor without special intervention.
The study lasted one year, and researchers measured how often participants needed medical care for their breathing problems, as well as their quality of life, symptom severity, and lung function.
The intervention group needed fewer medical visits for breathing problems compared to the usual care group (0.53 vs. 1.12 visits per year).
They also felt better, had fewer symptoms, and showed better lung function. Their lung test results (forced expiratory volume in one second, or FEV1) improved by 119 mL, compared to just 22 mL in the usual care group. Both groups had a similar number of side effects from treatment.
How can I apply this information?
This study shows that catching COPD or asthma early and following proper treatment can improve health and reduce medical visits. People who saw a lung specialist and followed medical guidelines breathed better and felt better than those who only saw their regular doctor.
If you have ongoing coughing, wheezing, or trouble breathing, but haven’t been tested for lung disease, talk to a doctor about getting checked. Early diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference.
Because this is a research study, more studies may be needed to confirm the results in different groups of people. However, the findings suggest that screening for undiagnosed lung disease and following treatment guidelines can improve health outcomes.
Source:
Aaron SD, Vandemheen KL, Whitmore GA, Bergeron C, Boulet LP, Côté A, McIvor RA, Penz E, Field SK, Lemière C, Mayers I. Early diagnosis and treatment of COPD and asthma—a randomized, controlled trial. New England Journal of Medicine. 2024 Jun 13;390(22):2061-73. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38767248/
