Table 6. Recommendations regarding the diagnostic tests.
| Recommendation | Average value* | Inter-hospital range | P value† |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q10. GOLD 2013. Decline in lung function is best tracked by spirometry performed at least once a year | 497 (80.0) | 30–100 | < 0.001 |
| Q11. GOLD 2013. Spirometry should be performed after the administration of an adequate dose of a short-acting inhaled bronchodilator to minimize variability | 352 (56.7) | 0–94.9 | < 0.001 |
| Q12. GOLD 2013. A chest X-ray is valuable in excluding alternative diagnoses and establishing the presence of significant comorbidities | 426 (68.6) | 19.2–100 | < 0.001 |
| Q13. GOLD 2013. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest is not routinely recommended | |||
| • Cases with CT scan performed | 96 (15.5) | 2.5–37.5 | < 0.001 |
| Q14. GesEPOC. Indications for a chest CT scan are (n = 96): | |||
| • Diagnosis of bronchiectasis | 14 (14.6) | 0–33.3 | 0.021 |
| • Exclusion of other associated lung diseases | 57 (59.4) | 0–100 | 0.001 |
| • Diagnosis and evaluation of emphysema | 16 (16.7) | 0–100 | 0.002 |
| • Indication not available | 9 (9.4) | 0–46.7 | < 0.001 |
| Q15. SEPAR 2009. Serum α1-antitrypsin concentrations should be determined for all COPD patients at least once | |||
| • Serum α1-antitrypsin concentrations evaluated at some time point | 190 (30.6) | 2.5–62.3 | < 0.001 |
| Q16. GOLD 2013. Monitoring of physical activity may be more prognostically relevant prognosis than evaluating exercise capacity | 403 (64.9) | 24.7–100 | < 0.001 |
| Q17. SEPAR 2009. Patients with severe or very severe COPD should undergo the following test at least one time: maximal exercise test (n = 174) | 1 (0.6) | 0–50 | < 0.001 |
* Average value expressed as the mean (standard deviation) or absolute (relative) frequency depending on the nature of the variable.
† Calculated for the variability between centers using ANOVA or Chi-square, depending on the nature of the variable. Percentages refer to the whole population (n = 621) unless otherwise indicated. GOLD 2013: Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease 2013 [19]; SEPAR 2009: SEPAR Health-Care Quality Standards 2009 [21]; GesEPOC 2012: Spanish National Guideline for COPD [22].