Diagnosis and treatment outcomes from prebronchodilator spirometry performed alongside lung cancer screening in a Lung Health Check programme

Claire Bradley, Alison Boland, Louisa Clarke, Naomi Dallinson, Claire Eckert, Deborah Ellames, Jonathan Finn, Rhian Gabe, Neil Hancock, Martyn Pt Kennedy, Jason Lindop, Ayad Mohamed, Gabriel Mullen, Rachael L Murray, Suzanne Rogerson, Bethany Shinkins, Irene Simmonds, Sara Upperton, Anne Wilkinson, Philip A CrosbieMatthew Ej Callister

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Incorporating spirometry into low-dose CT (LDCT) screening for lung cancer may help identify people with undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), although the downstream impacts are not well described.

METHODS: Participants attending a Lung Health Check (LHC) as part of the Yorkshire Lung Screening Trial were offered spirometry alongside LDCT screening. Results were communicated to the general practitioner (GP), and those with unexplained symptomatic airflow obstruction (AO) fulfilling agreed criteria were referred to the Leeds Community Respiratory Team (CRT) for assessment and treatment. Primary care records were reviewed to determine changes to diagnostic coding and pharmacotherapy.

RESULTS: Of 2391 LHC participants undergoing prebronchodilator spirometry, 201 (8.4%) fulfilled the CRT referral criteria of which 151 were invited for further assessment. Ninety seven participants were subsequently reviewed by the CRT, 46 declined assessment and 8 had already been seen by their GP at the time of CRT contact. Overall 70 participants had postbronchodilator spirometry checked, of whom 20 (29%) did not have AO. Considering the whole cohort referred to the CRT (but excluding those without AO postbronchodilation), 59 had a new GP COPD code, 56 commenced new pharmacotherapy and 5 were underwent pulmonary rehabilitation (comprising 2.5%, 2.3% and 0.2% of the 2391 participants undergoing LHC spirometry).

CONCLUSIONS: Delivering spirometry alongside lung cancer screening may facilitate earlier diagnosis of COPD. However, this study highlights the importance of confirming AO by postbronchodilator spirometry prior to diagnosing and treating patients with COPD and illustrates some downstream challenges in acting on spirometry collected during an LHC.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)543-550
Number of pages8
JournalThorax
Volume78
Issue number6
Early online date27 Mar 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2023

Keywords

  • COPD epidemiology

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