Resource impact summary report | Tools and resources | Digital technologies for applying algorithms to spirometry to support asthma and COPD diagnosis in primary care and community diagnostic centres: early-use assessment | Guidance

Guidance recommendations

See NICE's recommendations on digital technologies for applying algorithms to spirometry to support asthma and COPD diagnosis in primary care and community diagnostic centres: early-use assessment.

Financial and capacity resource impact

The key drivers of resource impact are that:

ArtiQ.Spiro could help staff with different levels of experience to perform diagnostic spirometry and interpret results. This could increase access to spirometry because people would not have to wait for an appointment in secondary care. It is unknown whether this could affect variation in the quality of spirometry and accuracy of interpretation, and subsequent diagnosis following clinical review.
The technology may increase the number of primary care settings and community diagnostic centres that are able to offer diagnostic spirometry as part of their service.
Earlier and improved diagnosis could lead to earlier access to appropriate treatment, which may have long-term benefits and save healthcare resources.
Algorithmic support may improve the quality of spirometry and accuracy of the subsequent diagnosis made alongside other clinical factors. This could potentially reduce the number of people referred to secondary care because of doubts in diagnosis, or because of an exacerbation after misdiagnosis, unnecessary treatment or a lack of treatment.

Algorithm outputs from ArtiQ.Spiro may support healthcare professionals to make diagnoses, but do not replace clinical judgement or the need for a clinical assessment. The diagnostic accuracy (including the number of false-positive and false-negative results) when the technology is used in primary care and community diagnostic centres is currently unclear.

The impact of ArtiQ.Spiro on long-term patient outcomes is currently unknown and the evidence generation plan gives further information on the prioritised evidence gaps and outcomes, ongoing studies and potential real-world data sources.

Key information

Table 1 Key information

Speciality	Respiratory
Programme budgeting category	PBC11X Problems of the respiratory system
Commissioner	Integrated care boards
Providers	Community providers, primary care providers
Pathway position	Diagnosis

About this resource impact summary report

This resource impact summary report accompanies the NICE HealthTech guidance on digital technologies for applying algorithms to spirometry to support asthma and COPD diagnosis in primary care and community diagnostic centres and should be read with it.

ISBN: 978-1-4731-9422-9