Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41678226›Full record

Observational studyJournal of clinical nursing2026

COPD Management in Primary Care: Underutilisation of Nursing Consultations.

Marc Vila, Meritxell Mondejar, Sergio Cazorla-Calderón, Àngels Ballarin, Sandra Casas-Recasens, Rosa Faner, Alvar Agustí

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Journal of clinical nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Marc VilaEquip d'Assistència Primària Vic (EAPVIC), Barcelona, Spain.
Meritxell MondejarFaculty of Health Sciences and Welfare, Research Group M3O, Methodology, Methods, Models and Outcomes of Health and Social Sciences, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-0447-9015
Sergio Cazorla-CalderónFaculty of Health Sciences and Welfare, Research Group M3O, Methodology, Methods, Models and Outcomes of Health and Social Sciences, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
Àngels BallarinEquip d'Assistència Primària Vic (EAPVIC), Barcelona, Spain.
Sandra Casas-RecasensInstitut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
Rosa FanerCatedra Salud Respiratoria, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Alvar AgustíCatedra Salud Respiratoria, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Funding

Instituto de Salud Carlos III PM21/00090
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo describe the clinical profile, comorbidity burden, follow-up and healthcare utilisation in patients labelled as having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Primary Care (PC) nursing consultations.

designReal-world data COPD, retrospective, observational study using routinely collected data in electronic health records (EHR). This study adheres to the STROBE reporting guidelines for cross-sectional studies. LOCATION: Three Primary Care centres in Catalonia, Spain, belong to the Catalan Health Service.

participantsAll patients aged ≥ 15 years with a recorded diagnosis of COPD in their EHR, excluding institutionalised individuals and those deceased before study onset. Final sample: 474 patients (105 women, 369 men; mean age 70 years) from a reference population of 28,000 individuals. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Data included socio-demographics, smoking/alcohol, mMRC dyspnea, inhaled therapy/adherence, spirometry, comorbidities, Adjusted Morbidity Groups (GMA), active COPD care plans and 12-month healthcare use.

resultsEHR showed a high rate of missing data in follow-up variables (inhaler adherence 28.5%; dyspnea 17%-20%). Despite that, all participants were 'labelled' as COPD, most of them lacked spirometric confirmation. Active smoking was highly prevalent (52.3% women, 45.0% men). Hypertension, obesity and osteoarthritis were the most common comorbidities; anxiety, depression, osteoporosis and thyroid disorders were more frequent in women. Higher GMA complexity correlated with more Primary Care visits, especially nursing consultations, particularly in patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes (p < 0.001) for 12 months follow-up. No significant differences between groups were found in urgent or hospital care use.

conclusionsEHR-labelled COPD patients with cardiometabolic comorbidity received more structured nursing follow-up and more annual visits than without. Improving EHR recording, integrating spirometry with the EHR, and prioritising high-complexity profiles could enhance monitoring, treatment optimisation and equity-nursing consultations are a key lever. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patients or members of the public were directly engaged in the study design or data analysis. Nevertheless, the research was motivated by patient needs and aims to improve healthcare services.

Indexed as

Primary Health CarePulmonary Disease, Chronic ObstructiveReferral and ConsultationAgedAged, 80 and overCross-Sectional StudiesElectronic Health RecordsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSpainUndertreatmentcare planCOPDhealthcare utilisationnursingprimary care

Identifiers

PMID41678226
PMCPMC13156530

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.