Prevalence of respiratory symptoms. Currently available data on German practices
Magnussen, H.
Medizinische Klinik 100(Suppl 1): 1-4
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0723-5003 PMID: 16422210 Document Number: 591242
Respiratory symptoms and lung function impairment as an expression of COPD are frequent in Germany. The symptoms, especially dyspnea, correlate only moderately with the degree of functional impairment. In contrast to the actual GOLD guidelines, in general practices the therapy is based on symptoms rather than on lung function, resulting in an undertreatment of asymptomatic patients. Therefore, increasing utilization of spirometry in practices is to demand; on the other hand respiratory symptoms should gain a greater significance in the GOLD guidelines, also against the background of disease-related costs.