Testing and Diagnosis
Diagnosis: Pulmonary Function Testing
- Perform or refer for a lung function test-spirometry-to determine the severity. Spirometry with bronchodilator testing may distinguish COPD from asthma.
- A criterion for diagnosis of COPD is a postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 0.7. These patients should receive professional assistance for smoking cessation.
![Graphic indicating the progression of severity for treating COPD (least severe to most severe): Self-Management Education and Smoking Cessation; Bronchodilators; Inhaled Corticosteroids; Pulmonary Rehabilitation; Oxygen; Surgery.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080917180538im_/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/copd/images/diagram/treatment-chart.gif)
Treatment
- Aggressive management of COPD can make a difference for the patient.
- Advances in therapies have been shown to improve survival or quality of life for COPD patients.