Quality of life and predictions of survival in patients with advanced emphysema.
Although many factors have been shown to relate to survival in patients with emphysema and COPD, age and baseline post-bronchodilator FEV1 are the best predictors of mortality. It is important to note that mortality in patients presenting with a baseline FEV1 of 50% or greater is only slightly greater than in a group of healthy smokers. Moreover, the wide variability in survival in patients with severe airflow obstruction should cause clinicians to be cautious when attempting to estimate and discuss prognosis with patients.
Corris
P A
PA
Freeman Hospital, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England.
D004417:Dyspnea / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life