Differences between absolute and predicted values of forced expiratory volumes to classify ventilatory impairment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) severity criterion for COPD is used widely in clinical and research settings; however, it requires the use of ethnic- or population-specific reference equations. We propose two alternative severity criteria based on absolute post-bronchodilator FEV1 values (FEV1 and FEV1/height2) that do not depend on reference equations. We compared the accuracy of these classification schemas versus those on % predicted values (GOLD criterion) and Z-scores of post-bronchodilator FEV1 to predict COPD-related functional outcomes or percent emphysema by computerized tomography of the lung.

Source: Respiratory Medicine CME - November 11, 2015 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: William Checkley, Marilyn G. Foreman, Surya Bhatt, Mark Dransfield, MeiLan Han, Nicola A. Hanania, Nadia N. Hansel, Elizabeth A. Regan, Robert A. Wise, COPDGene Study Investigators Source Type: research