Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Undiagnosed Asthma or COPD: THE UCAP 2 TRIAL

Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Undiagnosed Asthma or COPD: THE UCAP 2 TRIAL

Our research group has found that Canadians with undiagnosed asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have increased respiratory symptoms and worse health-related quality of life.

The investigators recently developed and validated an on-line questionnaire to accurately identify these symptomatic, undiagnosed individuals.

The investigators will advertise in the community asking individuals to complete the on-line questionnaire at home, at their leisure, to determine if they are at risk of asthma or COPD. Those at risk will be invited to participate in a randomized, controlled clinical trial to determine whether early diagnosis of previously undiagnosed asthma or COPD and subsequent treatment by the primary care practitioner will improve their quality of life.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals at least 18 years old
• Individuals must be symptomatic with respiratory symptoms
• Individuals must complete the UCAP-Q questionnaire and score a ≥ 6% probability of having either asthma or COPD.
• Individuals who have given written informed consent to participate in this trial in accordance with local regulations;
• Individual must be able to perform pre and post bronchodilator spirometry to measure lung function

Additional Inclusion Criteria for the Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT):

• Individuals who have undiagnosed airflow obstruction on spirometry testing (i.e. Asthma or COPD) will be asked to participate in the RCT.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who report a previous diagnosis of asthma, COPD, history of lung cancer, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis or other significant diagnosed lung disease.
• Individuals currently under the care of a Respirologist.
• Individuals currently using inhaled corticosteroids or long-acting bronchodilators.
• Individuals with history of myocardial infarction, stroke, aortic or cerebral aneurysm, or detached retina or eye surgery within the past 3 months (spirometry is contraindicated)
• Individuals who are in the third trimester of pregnancy
• Individuals involved in another interventional trial