Exploring the causes of COPD misdiagnosis in primary care: a mixed methods study.
Misdiagnosis can lead to delayed or unnecessary treatment and threaten patient safety. This mixed methods study examined the prevalence and features of patients misdiagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Among 1,458 patients, researchers found that 14% had been misdiagnosed with COPD, primarily due to challenges interpreting spirometry reports or misinterpretation of clinical history.