Diagnosing COPD
This section describes recommended methods of diagnosing COPD, and also tests to differentiate COPD from asthma.
A diagnosis of COPD should be considered in any patient presenting with dyspnoea, chronic cough or sputum production with a history of exposure to risk factors such as smoking (Table 1).1
Table 1: Factors suggesting presence of COPD, indicating a need to perform spirometry.
Adapted from GOLD Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of COPD.1
Expert Opinion
References
- Global Initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease: Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of COPD. 2011. www.goldcopd.org