Misdiagnosis and mortality rates

Researchers have discovered that people in New York and around the country who have obesity hypertension syndrome may not get the proper diagnosis, which could lead to inappropriate care. Commonly, those who have the disorder are diagnosed with other respiratory conditions, and researchers believe that this is contributing to a high mortality rate. The survival rate for those with obesity hypertension syndrome is lower than the five-year survival rate for breast and colon cancer.

To reach their conclusions, researchers retroactively studied 600 patients who were admitted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Virginia. All 600 patients had obesity hypertension syndrome but were diagnosed with something else. The average age of the patients was 58 and 37 percent had a history of diabetes. Of those studied, 43 percent were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as opposed to obesity hypertension syndrome.

Among those who were admitted to the hospital, 510 survived their initial admission. Of those, 98 died within 3.2 years of their initial admission. The researchers concluded that all patients with a BMI over 35 should be screened for the condition. The patients who were involved in the study all had a BMI of 40 or higher. Researchers also recommended that those who were diagnosed with the condition to see a dietitian and sleep specialist to best manage it.

If patients are not properly diagnosed, their condition could worsen. A person who has been harmed as a result of a doctor misdiagnosis may want to meet with a medical malpractice attorney to see what recourse might be available for seeking compensation for medical expenses and other losses.