One third of people with "asthma" may be overdiagnosed (and overtreated)
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Anyone caring for patients in a clinic setting knows that asthma can easily be overdiagnosed. Asthma lacks a gold standard test for diagnosis, can produce vague symptoms, and inexpensive, low risk treatments are available (inhaled corticosteroids and albuterol). The result is many dyspneic or coughing patients are given an asthma diagnosis that is provisional or tentative -- whether or not the patient is told this. Further, some patients correctly diagnosed with asthma may enter a spontaneous remission, at which time medications should be discontinued. Most patients stop their treatments on their own for cost and convenience reasons, but some may linger on unneeded treatments for years. The rate of spontaneous remission of asthma is unknown. Just how often asthma is misdiagnosed, over-diagnosed, or over-treated is anyone's guess. A
One third of people with "asthma" may be overdiagnosed (and overtreated)
One third of people with "asthma" may be…
One third of people with "asthma" may be overdiagnosed (and overtreated)
Anyone caring for patients in a clinic setting knows that asthma can easily be overdiagnosed. Asthma lacks a gold standard test for diagnosis, can produce vague symptoms, and inexpensive, low risk treatments are available (inhaled corticosteroids and albuterol). The result is many dyspneic or coughing patients are given an asthma diagnosis that is provisional or tentative -- whether or not the patient is told this. Further, some patients correctly diagnosed with asthma may enter a spontaneous remission, at which time medications should be discontinued. Most patients stop their treatments on their own for cost and convenience reasons, but some may linger on unneeded treatments for years. The rate of spontaneous remission of asthma is unknown. Just how often asthma is misdiagnosed, over-diagnosed, or over-treated is anyone's guess. A