Diagnosis and prognosis of COPD

WHO estimates that 210 million people have COPD worldwide. COPD is the 4th leading cause of death in the world, but by 2030 it is expected to be the 3rd, behind CAD and stroke http://bit.ly/X5nje

COPD is a major drain on health-care budgets with 50% of costs accounted for by hospital admissions http://bit.ly/3F0ZMY

It is time to define the disorders of the syndrome of COPD, and clearly distinguish COPD from asthma. Post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio of below 0·7 identifies patients with poorly reversible airflow obstruction helps distinguish COPD from asthma. http://bit.ly/SfGjK

COPD mortality is inversely correlated to the forced expiratory volume (FEV1) in 1 second. http://bit.ly/ZYIR7

BODE index (body-mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnoea, exercise capacity) is a prognostic assessment of COPD patients. A simplified ADO index (including age, dyspnoea, and airflow obstruction) was developed from BODE index for COPD http://bit.ly/14IUDL

Budesonide treatment for 12 months does not increase the risk of pneumonia in patients with COPD http://bit.ly/1PntiS

Different subsets of patients exist within the broad spectrum of COPD, targeted specific therapies could help http://bit.ly/3nuGuR

Related:

Frequent exacerbations in COPD: What to do? BMJ 10-minute consultation, 2011.

Action plan is a key component of self-management programs in patients with COPD. Thorax, 20111.
COPD discharge care bundle - a short list of evidence-based practices to be implemented prior to discharge. Thorax, 2011.