Despite experiencing symptoms, roughly 70% of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma do not know they have the condition. They also tend to have worse quality of life and spend more time in the clinic and hospital than those who are healthier.

Now, new involving more than 500 participants in Canada suggests people with previously undiagnosed COPD or asthma who began guideline-based care directed by a pulmonologist had fewer health care visits for respiratory symptoms than those who received usual care from their primary care clinician. Participants who received the specialist intervention also had a greater improvement in lung function than those in the usual-care group.