title: Validation of the breathlessness, cough and sputum scale to predict COPD exacerbation.
abstract: The breathlessness, cough and sputum scale (BCSS) is a three-item questionnaire rating breathlessness, cough and sputum on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (no symptoms) to 4 (severe symptoms). Researchers have explored the utility of this tool to quantify efficacy of treatment following a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation; however, little work has been done to investigate the ability of the BCSS to predict COPD exacerbation. As part of a prospective case-crossover study among a cohort of 168 COPD patients residing in central Massachusetts, patients were asked standard BCSS questions during exacerbation and randomly identified non-exacerbation (or healthy) weeks. We found that the BCSS was strongly associated with COPD exacerbation (OR=2.80, 95% CI=2.27-3.45) and that a BCSS sum score of 5.0 identified COPD exacerbation with 83% sensitivity and 68% specificity. These results may be useful in the clinical setting to expedite interventions of exacerbation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DeVries
authors.affiliation: Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kriebel
authors.affiliation: Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003371:Cough / Q000175:diagnosis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013183:Sputum; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents