Ahead of print – article in press
Original Research
Asthma incidence and accuracy of diagnosis in the
Portuguese sentinel practice network
*Jaime Correia de Sousaa,b, Manuel Luciano Silvab, Filipa Almada Loboc, John Yaphea
a
School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
b
Horizonte Family Health Unit, Matosinhos, Porto, Portugal
c
Porta do Sol Family Health Unit, Matosinhos, Porto, Portugal
Received 30 July 2009 • Accepted 21 February 2010 • Online 20 April 2010
Abstract
AIMS: Asthma is frequently under-diagnosed with a wide variation in incidence rates. We aimed to assess how physicians in a Portuguese
sentinel practice network perform using standardised diagnostic criteria.
METHOD: Patients consulting one of the 43 network physicians with complaints suggestive of asthma were enrolled in the study over a
four-year period. Symptom frequency and diagnoses of asthma were tabulated. Diagnostic accuracy was computed by dividing the rate
of asthma diagnosis by the true rate using established diagnostic criteria.
RESULTS: Over four years, 43 physicians followed 32,103 patients (128,412 patient-years) and diagnosed asthma in 310. The diagnosis was
confirmed in 260 cases, giving a true incidence rate of 2.02/1000/year (95% confidence interval 1.8 to 2.2) and an accuracy of diagnosis
of 84%.
CONCLUSIONS: Asthma incidence approaches published rates if accepted criteria are used. Educational efforts to ensure more accurate
diagnosis may improve outcomes for asthma patients.
Keywords
Asthma, incidence, diagnosis, diagnostic accuracy, family practice, general practice, Portugal
* Corresponding author. Jaime Correia de Sousa Tel: 351 253 604823 Fax: 351 253 604862 Email: jaimecsousa@gmail.com | |
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