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Pauline Desjardins participated in a clinical study on asthma led by The Ottawa Hospital’s Dr. Shawn Aaron. She now breathes easier, sleeps properly and feels like she has a new lease on life.

In 2011, Pauline Desjardins developed a chronic cough. Her family doctor prescribed four medications used to treat asthma, a condition diagnosed in roughly 2.6 million Canadians over the age of 11.

As annoying as these symptoms of wheezing and coughing were, the real problem was their combination with another condition she suffered. Desjardins had a digestive tract problem that made her prone to regurgitating her stomach contents. This was made worse by her chronic coughing and led to rather uncomfortable and embarrassing situations when she was simply talking with someone. She also had to buy a special bed because, in order to sleep, she had to be in an upright position.

“It was disgusting, really,” said Desjardins.

Even though she was taking the asthma medications, she was still coughing and wheezing. Her family was urging her to go back to her doctor.

Then, in early 2014, everything changed.

“I got a call from the hospital’s research institute asking if anyone in the house had asthma,” said Desjardins. Her phone number had been randomly selected as part of a clinical study being conducted by Dr. Shawn Aaron, a researcher and respirologist at The Ottawa Hospital, and professor at the University of Ottawa.

“I mean, wow! It was like winning the lottery!” said Desjardins.

An earlier study by Dr. Aaron had discovered that almost one-third of people diagnosed with asthma in his research sample group did not actually have the condition.

In the Canadian population, that’s like misdiagnosing every resident of Winnipeg, and then some.

Dr. Aaron now wants to know why so many people are being improperly tagged with asthma. Are the proper tests being ordered? How often is a misdiagnosis of asthma masking another condition or problem that could be treated? Can patient health be improved by diagnosing asthma accurately?

When Desjardins saw Dr. Aaron, they ran diagnostic tests that determined she did not actually have asthma and, as a result, stopped her unnecessary medications. During the study’s follow-up period, which lasts a year, Dr. Aaron discovered that her cough could be the result of a medication she was taking for her digestive condition and changed her medication.

Her cough disappeared.

“I was so happy. It changed my life,” said Desjardins. “I am so glad there are studies like this to help people.”

Research at The Ottawa Hospital involves more than 1,700 scientists, clinician-investigators, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and staff who are working to improve the understanding, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human disease. Support our research. Give to the Tender Loving Research campaign.

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