Table 4 Reasons to refer a patient to secondary care, when the referral reason is known
From: Type 2 diabetes and COPD: treatment in the right healthcare setting? An observational study
Diabetes Mellitus type 2 | COPD |
|---|---|
Insufficient glycosylated hemoglobin regulation | Dyspnea (on exertion) |
T2DM in combination with pregnancy wish | Coughing |
Patient wishes a sensor indicator/ insulin pump/ glucose flash monitoring | Exacerbation of COPD |
Diagnostic uncertainty on type 2 diabetes | COPD ‘The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease’ stage 3 or 4 (fitting with FEV1% < 50%) |
Starting with a glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist | Pneumonia combined with COPD |
Side effects of the medication | Insufficient treatment with the current medication |
Elevated albumin/creatinine ratio in the urine (for advice) | Inconclusive spirometry |
Neuropathic pain | Both obstructive and restrictive lung disease |
Patient wishes a referral | Patient wishes a referral |
The need for a new referral to secondary care (patient went to secondary care in the past) | Diagnostic uncertainty ons COPD |
Hypoglycemia | Both COPD and asthma |
Macrovascular complications | High burden of disease |