Grading COPD

Determining Disease Severity

Table 1. Severity of airflow obstruction

 

NICE clinical guideline 12 (2004)

NICE clinical guideline 101 (2010)

Post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC

FEV1 % predicted

 

Post-bronchodilator

< 0.7

≥ 80%

 

Stage 1 – Mild*

< 0.7

50-79%

Mild

Stage 2 – Moderate

< 0.7

30-49%

Moderate

Stage 3 – Severe

< 0.7

< 30%

Severe

Stage 4 – Very severe

*Symptoms should be present to diagnose COPD in people with mild airflow obstruction

Severity

FEV1 % of Predicted

Read Code

Mild

FEV1 ≥ 80%

H36

Moderate

FEV1  50-79%

H37

Severe

FEV1  30-49%

H38

Very Severe

FEV1 < 30%

H39

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