title: Functional assessment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe available methods for assessing functional capacity in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  An extensive literature review is used to provide pertinent information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COPD disease affects millions of Americans and is physically and psychologically distressing. The hallmark of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is irreversible airflow limitation and dyspnea. Dyspnea is a major contributor to decreased exercise capacity and functional status in this population. Understanding the methods to complete a functional assessment is important for all practitioners caring for this population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper provides an overview of current methods used to assess functional status, including pulmonary function testing, exercise testing, and anthropomorphic and self-report measurements. In addition, there is discussion of the indications and contraindications for exercise testing in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the clinical significance of performing a global composite of functional ability.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. cdowns@nursing.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Downs
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis; D000075202:Contraindications; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires