Outcome measures in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): strengths and limitations.
Current methods for assessing clinical outcomes in COPD mainly rely on physiological tests combined with the use of questionnaires. The present review considers commonly used outcome measures such as lung function, health status, exercise capacity and physical activity, dyspnoea, exacerbations, the multi-dimensional BODE score, and mortality. Based on current published data, we provide a concise overview of the principles, strengths and weaknesses, and discuss open questions related to each methodology. Reviewed is the current set of markers for measuring clinically relevant outcomes with particular emphasis on their limitations and opportunities that should be recognized when assessing and interpreting their use in clinical trials of COPD.
Glaab
Thomas
T
Pulmonary Department, University Hospital, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany.
Vogelmeier
Claus
C
Buhl
Roland
R
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015897:Comorbidity; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome