In conclusion, the categorization of patients with
COPD on the basis of the level of dyspnea was more
discriminating than the staging of disease severity
with the ATS criteria with respect to 5-year survival.
The level of dyspnea, as well as the severity of airway
obstruction, provides clinically important prognostic
information in the management of patients with
COPD. In an attempt to evaluate patients with
COPD systematically, dyspnea should be included in
addition to airway obstruction as one of the variables
affecting mortality..