Detail (Long)
<b>Post-BD FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC <0.7</b> required to confirm COPD; if initial ratio 0.6 to 0.8 post BD, recheck on separate occasion. Avoid PEF due to low specificity. Degree of reversibility pre/post BD not shown to improve COPD dx, differentiate from asthma, or predict tx response. Significant lung pathology can be present w/o airflow limitation.<br>
◦ Lung volumes help characterize severity but aren’t essential to pt mgmt.<br>
◦ If sx (dyspnea) out of proportion to degree of airflow obstruction, measure DLco.
◦ Lung volumes help characterize severity but aren’t essential to pt mgmt.<br>
◦ If sx (dyspnea) out of proportion to degree of airflow obstruction, measure DLco.