A groundbreaking Canadian study published in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated that identifying and treating individuals with undiagnosed asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) significantly improved their health and reduced healthcare visits. Led by Dr. Shawn Aaron at The Ottawa Hospital, this first-of-its-kind clinical trial was conducted across 17 sites in Canada. Dr. Nicole Ezer was the lead investigator at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC).
The study underscores the importance of diagnosis and treatment for improving symptoms and quality of life in patients with asthma or COPD. Treating undiagnosed asthma and COPD also led to fewer healthcare visits. The research team advocates for spirometry testing for anyone experiencing chronic respiratory symptoms, emphasizing the effectiveness of combined treatment and patient education.
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A clinical trial shows benefits of finding and treating undiagnosed asthma and COPD. This innovative Canadian study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, marks a world first. RI-MUHC News. May 22. 2024.
Read the Article
Early Diagnosis and Treatment of COPD and Asthma: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. Shawn D. Aaron, Katherine L. Vandemheen, G. A. Whitmore, Celine Bergeron, Louis-Philippe Boulet, Andreanne Cote, Andrew McIvor, Erika Penz, Stephen K. Field, Catherine Lemière, Irvin Mayers, Mohit Bhutani, Tanweer Azher, Diane Lougheed, Samir Gupta, Nicole Ezer, Christopher J. Licskai, Paul Hernandez, Martha Ainslie, Gonzalo G Alvarez, Sunita Mulpuru, for the UCAP investigators. New England Journal of Medicine. May 20, 2024. May 19. PMID: 38767248