[Severity of COPD--a broader prognostic assessment is necessary].
Clinical manifestations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and progress of disease are heterogeneous. A single parameter such as lung function is insufficient to capture manifestations of COPD and to estimate the prognosis of patients. A number of additional parameters such as level of physical activity, cardiovascular co-morbidity or history of exacerbations should be considered. If a validated assessment including the most important prognostic parameters becomes available, COPD management could become more individualized and patient-centered than it currently is.
Puhan
M
M
Horten Zentrum für praxisorientierte Forschung und Wissenstransfer, Universität Zürich. milo.puhan@usz.ch
D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D018450:Disease Progression; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014797:Vital Capacity