COPD Stages: How Are They Helpful?
This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The COPD.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.
View References
- COPD Guidelines, Global Initiative for Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (GOLD), page 22, 28-29, https://goldcopd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GOLD-2018-v6.0-FINAL-revised-20-Nov_WMS.pdf, accessed 7/20/18
- Meldrum, Catherine, presenter, “Introduction to COPD,” MiCMRC Educational Webinar, University Of Michigan, 2017, February 17, http://micmrc.org/resources/tagged/copd, accessed 7/17/18
- “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Practice Guidelines,” Michigan Medicine: University of Michigan, 2017, November, http://www.med.umich.edu/1info/FHP/practiceguides/copd/copd.pdf, accessed 7/19/18
- Asthma Guidelines, Global Initiative For Asthma (GINA), 2018, file:///home/chronos/u-a5675ff0ca586456e9cc1b11907a04ff7cebdaee/Downloads/wms-GINA-2018-report-V1.3-002.pdf, accessed 7/17/18
- “Stages of COPD: MIld Through End-Stage COPD,” COPD Foundation, 2018, February 10, https://lunginstitute.com/blog/stages-of-copd-mild-through-end-stage/, accessed 7/19/18
- COPD Guidelines: Pocket Guide to Diagnosis, Management, And Prevention, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, page 6, https://goldcopd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/wms-GOLD-2017-Pocket-Guide.pdf, accessed 7/19/18
- “Early Symptoms of COPD: What Are Your Next Steps,” 2017, July 24, https://lunginstitute.com/blog/early-symptoms-of-copd/, accessed 7/16/18
Comments
Who is editing this? Way too many errors!
For example: “So, if your post-bronchodilator FEV1 is 40%, you can be diagnosed with Moderate COPD.” it should be SEVERE COPD
Likewise: “Unfortunately, we in healthcare often refer to stage 4 as “End Stage.” That dirty, rotten word no one wants to hear. So, we try to dial it back and refer to it as “Severe COPD.”” It should be VERY SEVERE COPD
I also dispute the statement “COPD can be diagnosed based on your history.” The PFT does more than make it “official”. It eliminates many restrictive diseases, physiological problems, and other problems which may very well cause the exact same symptoms with the exact same history.
Thanks for the criticism. I will take this point by point. #1True, 40% should read severe. You got me. #2. I meant to use the term “severe COPD” here because severe and very severe are both severe. Plus, rarely do you hear doctors use the term “very severe.” I suppose, if you want to get technical, you are right again. #3 You are correct. A PFT can help with a differential diagnosis. But that is the topic of a future post. What I was referring to here is the Gold COPD Guidelines that suggest a PFT be used to garnish an official diagnosis of COPD (see the reference #1). I hope this clarifies this a bit. And thanks again for keeping us on our toes. John. Site Moderator.
Hi Mendo Bruce and thanks for your post. I’m sure John and our editors will see this and respond. We appreciate you looking our content over so closely and pointing out discrepancies as you understand them. Thanks for being part of the community.
Wishing you the best,
Leon (site moderator)
Thanks John for this very helpful and timely explanation-article. I believe this will not only help our community members who read it, but also provide a newer reference (from COPD.net) for the rest of us to use as a link.
Regards,
Leon (site moderator)