Identifying patients with COPD

People with or at risk of COPD can be identified by the following measures.


Evaluating and optimising treatment in those with an existing diagnosis of chronic bronchitis, emphysema or COAD.

Reviewing patients over 40 labelled as having asthma or those taking bronchodilators who also smoke.

Performing spirometry on smokers with breathlessness, cough,sputum or wheeze. Recalling smokers with acute bronchitis,when they are well, to perform lung function testing.

Screening of asymptomatic smokers over 35 – there may beas many as 20% with airflow obstruction. A case-controlledstudy by van Schayck in the Netherlands found that in smokers aged over 35 years who also have a persistent cough, 27% had airflow obstruction on spirometry.

Encouraging patients to report to their GP surgery if they have symptoms – the British Thoracic Society and the British Lung Foundation have posters that can be displayed in surgeries and pharmacies.