Author Interviews, JAMA, Pulmonary Disease, Smoking / 07.04.2016
Task Force Recommends Against Routine COPD Screening in Asymptomatic Adults
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. William Phillips MD MPH
USPSTF Task Force member and
Theodore J. Phillips Endowed Professor in Family Medicine
University of Washington, Seattle. Dr. Phillips is also a founder and senior associate editor of the Annals of Family Medicine
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Phillips: Chronic obstructive respiratory disease, or COPD, is a serious, chronic condition that affects a person’s ability to breathe. It is the third leading cause of death in the United States. When the Task Force reviewed the research on screening adults for COPD in a primary care setting, we concluded with moderate certainty that screening has no net benefit, which is why we do not recommend screening for COPD in people who do not have symptoms.
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