On-line Lung Test Launched

Submitted by GAtherton on 15 July 2016

Lung disease is very common with often a gradual onset. Millions remain undiagnosed and many die prematurely. If people are diagnosed early they can usually be helped far more effectively than those presenting with advanced lung disease. This could clearly help improve and maintain the patients’ quality of life but it also could remove some of the workload on our doctors.

But how do we find the patients at risk? They aren’t coming in to see their doctor, possibly out of an assumption that deterioration in lung function is normal as we age or if we smoke. We need a simple, quick screening test that is available to all without a GP appointment!

The British Lung Foundation have launched a simple online tool for members of the public to use  if they are concerned about having breathing problems. It takes the form of a short series of questions on BMI, smoking, exercise, breathlessness and more, following which the user is directed to take one of a number of different actions ranging from ‘No further action needed’ to ‘Give up smoking’ and ‘ask your doctor or nurse about your shortness of breath’. The tool also asks for the email address of the user so will presumably attempt to follow up poor tests with subsequent emails as reminders.

Although not able to reach everyone as many at risk will not have a computer with access to the internet, this test is likely to be a useful screening tool that could be used by a wide variety of people & professionals – it isn’t difficult to imagine them being carried out over the phone for people with no computer. Coupled with a campaign on breathlessness diagnosis this tool could make a useful contribution to finding those missing millions of people suffering from lung disease more quickly.