Dyspnea | Medical Research Council dyspnea grade (disease severity) |
Exposure history | Smoking, airborne pollutants |
Family history | α1-Antitrypsin deficiency |
Examination | Body mass index, edema, side effects of corticosteroids |
Spirometry | Confirm diagnosis |
Chest x-ray scan | Rule out other causes or comorbidity |
Arterial blood gas test (if FEV1 is < 40% of predicted) | Assess for hypoxemia and hypercapnia |
Exercise testing | 6-min walk test or cardiopulmonary exercise test |
Sputum induction | Evaluate for eosinophilic or neutrophilic bronchitis |
Bone densitometry | Assess for osteopenia and osteoporosis |
Echocardiogram | Assess cardiac function and pulmonary hypertension |
Screening for depression or anxiety | Look for comorbid psychiatric symptoms |