International Scholarly Research Notices

Research Article

Outcomes of COPD Exacerbations Treated with Corticosteroids, Antibiotics, or Both

Table 4

Components of symptom index*.
ComponentPoints
Increased dyspnea†0.1–1
Increased sputum quantity0.084
Purulent sputum‡0.167
Increased sputum thickness0.167
Cough0.125
Wheezing0.125
Sore throat0.125
Nasal congestion0.125
Temperature >100°F0.5
Peak expiratory flow rate/predicted§
 >0.60.25
 0.5-0.60.5
 0.37–0.490.75
 <0.371
*Copyright #TX-7-170-236, 2004.
†Dyspnea graded from 1–10 and multiplied by 0.1.
‡Purulent sputum defined as yellow, green or brown colored sputum.
§Measured peak expiratory flow rate divided by predicted.