Korean J Med.  2009 Oct;77(4):401-406.

Diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Lee KH

Abstract

The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be diagnosed by spirometry. COPD is confirmed when a patient who has symptoms that are compatible with COPD is found to have airflow obstruction (post expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio less than 0.70). However, the FEV1/FVC ratio decreases with age and can create a risk for underdiagnosis in young patients an overdiagnosis in older patients. Therefore, clear consensus definition of diagnostic criteria for COPD in older patients is needed. The staging system using FEV1 alone has been criticized for underestimating the importance of the extrapulmonary manifestation of COPD in predicting outcome. The BODE (Body mass index, Obstruction, Dyspnea, Exercise capacity) index provides better prognostic information than the FEV1 alone and can be used to assess therapeutic response.

Keyword

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Diagnosis

MeSH Terms

Consensus
Dyspnea
Humans
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
Spirometry
Vital Capacity