The IDDEA project: a strategy for the detection of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in COPD patients in the primary care setting:

Objective: Primary care provides the main route for access to health care for patients with common chronic illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is an underdiagnosed pathology associated with COPD risk which has a very low prevalence. The Information and Detection of the Deficiency of AAT (IDDEA) project was developed to identify AAT-deficient patients at primary care centres by providing adequate diagnostic tools to family doctors.Methods: Patients with COPD were identified and registered on a specially designed website. Dried blood samples were collected on filter papers and sent to the laboratory for AAT levels and AAT deficiency-related genotype determinations. Results were uploaded to the website and analysed.Results: Between January 2008 and April 2009, 596 patients were identified by 90 participating physicians. The number of patients who did not have AAT deficiency (serum concentrations ≥60 mg AAT/dl) was 549 (98.9%). Nineteen patients...