| Description |
Alpha One Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) is a hereditary condition that is passed on from parents to children (Stoller, 2018). This condition may cause serious lung disease in adults, primarily Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (Stoller, 2015). Alpha One is widely underrecognized (Stoller & Aboussouan, 2012). It is estimated that less than 10% of severely deficient Alpha One Antitrypsin Deficient Americans have been diagnosed (Stoller, 2015). In 2003, the American Thoracic Society (ATS) recommended that all people diagnosed with COPD be screened for AATD (Stoller, 2003). Alpha One Antitrypsin Deficiency is a laboratory diagnosis not a clinical diagnosis and screening is imperative to make this diagnosis (Rahaghi, 2017). Despite the 2003 ATS recommendation, there has not been a significant increase in screening for AATD (Saundhaus & Turino, 2016). There are barriers associated with screening primarily focused on lack of provider awareness of AATD, failure to follow the ATS guidelines, and belief that there is no available treatment for AATD (Stoller, 2015). Lung effected patients identified as having AATD may be candidates for augmentation therapy which has been shown to slow down the progression of lung decline (Walsh, 2012). Patients with AATD related COPD, receiving augmentation therapy, have greater longevity compared to patients with AATD related COPD who are not diagnosed as early and therefore not receiving augmentation therapy (Teschler, 2015). The objectives of this project are to increase provider awareness and knowledge of AATD, the ATS guidelines, and therefore increase screening of AATD. This is accomplished by providing an educational module on AATD to family practice healthcare providers and providing free AlphaID screening kits. Study participants were given a pre and post educational survey and the results; demonstrated that there was a lack of awareness about AATD, ATS screening guidelines for AATD, and treatment options. |
