pulmonary disorders
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Prognosis for COPD
Severity of airway obstruction predicts survival in patients with COPD. For an FEV1 35 to 55% predicted, the 5-year mortality is 40%. For an FEV1less than 35% predicted, the 5-year mortality is 55% ( Prognosis reference ). , which is measured using the Breathlessness Measurement Using the Modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) Questionnaire ), and exercise capacity ( Patients at high risk of imminent death are those with progressive unexplained weight loss or severe functional decline (eg, those who experience dyspnea with self-care, such as dressing, bathing, or eating). Mortality in COPD may result from intercurrent illnesses rather than from progression of the underlying disorder in patients who have stopped smoking. Death is generally caused by acute respiratory failure, pneumonia, lung cancer, heart disease, or pulmonary embolism. 1.Almagro P, Martinez-Camblor P, Soriano JB, et al: Finding the best thresholds of FEV1 and dyspnea to predict 5-year survival in COPD patients: the COCOMICS study.PLoS One9(2):e89866, 2014. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089866 