Study Finds Many Adults May Be Misdiagnosed with Asthma

With growing awareness over the dangers of polypharmacy among the older population, a new Canadian study may lead the way to help some adults misdiagnosed with asthma get off unnecessary medication.

The study of 613 adults diagnosed with asthma over the past five years found that in 33 per cent of cases, asthma was ruled out and patients were able to remain off medication for a full year after re-examination.  The research from the University of Ottawa, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association,  found that many of those taken off drugs to treat asthma were misdiagnosed and suffered from other conditions such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), GERD (gastroesophageal reflux) or anxiety resulting in hyperventilation.  In other cases, the study participants did have asthma but it was in remission.

This new information should not encourage adults to stop their medication if diagnosed with adult asthma, but it does support the need for objective lung function testing.  Patients who have been misdiagnosed may have another underlying condition that is not being treated.  Symptoms of asthma can vary among patients and can include difficulty breathing, chest pain, cough or wheezing.

To read more about the study visit the JAMA Network by following this link.