Criteria of Burge and Wedzicha for an Exacerbation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

 

Major symptoms:

(1) increase in sputum volume

(2) increase in sputum purulence

(3) increase in dyspnea

 

Minor symptoms:

(1) sore throat or nasal discharge within past 5 days

(2) fever without other explanation

(3) increased wheezing

(4) increased cough

(5) increased respiratory rate (> 20% above usual respiratory rate)

(6) increased heart rate (> 20% above usual pulse)

 

Major Symptoms	Minor Symptoms	Type of Exacerbation
3	NA	1
2	NA	2
1	>= 1	3

 

where:

• A Type 3 exacerbation would seem prone to false positives.