Spirometry still underused in COPD diagnosis, says GP, as new guidance released
But Professor Nick Zwar says offering spirometry is more difficult than it should be.
All patients aged 35 or older with at least one recurring COPD symptom and risk factor should undergo spirometry, new guidance says.
Australia’s first COPD Clinical Care Standard also encourages influenza, pneumococcal disease, COVID-19 and potentially herpes zoster vaccination for patients diagnosed with COPD.
NSW GP Dr Lee Fong, chair of the COPD Clinical Care Standard working group, said the standard flagged areas where there was “room for improvement”.
“There is evidence that spirometry is not used as much as it could be for diagnosis, and there are probably not as many COPD action plans out there as there could be,” he told AusDoc.
