Spirometry and COPD diagnosis
Some patients can have very impaired spirometry, and have perceive minimal breathlessness. Conversely, some patients have very well preserved spirometry, but disabling breathlessness. Unfortunately there is no correlation between FEV1 and breathlessness, however if the FEV1 is greater than 65% and the patient is disablingly breathless, the diagnosis should be reviewed.
Spirometry and COPD diagnosis
Some patients can have very impaired spirometry, and have perceive minimal breathlessness. Conversely, some patients have very well preserved spirometry, but disabling breathlessness. Unfortunately there is no correlation between FEV1 and breathlessness, however if the FEV1 is greater than 65% and the patient is disablingly breathless, the diagnosis should be reviewed.
