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Symptom Score of Calverley et al for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Purpose: To monitor a patient with chronic pulmonary disease (COPD) using the symptom score of Calverley.

Description

Calverley et al used a simple symptom score to monitor patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This can be used to detect disease progression and measure the effectiveness of interventions. The authors are from universities in England, Belgium, Denmark and Norway engaged in the TRISTAN study group.


Parameters:

(1) breathlessness (dyspnea)

(2) cough

(3) sputum production

(4) sputum color

 

Other parameters measured:

(5) daily use of relief medications

(6) night-time awakenings

 

I would think that the presence of fever might be worth noting (considering the color changes for the sputum).

 

Parameters

Findings

Points

breathlessness

none

0

 

breathless with marked exertion

1

 

breathless with mild exertion

2

 

breathless with usual activities

3

 

breathless at rest

4

cough

none

0

 

mild

1

 

moderate

2

 

severe

3

sputum production (amount)

none

0

 

mild

1

 

moderate

2

 

large

3

sputum color

no sputum produced

0

 

small amount of clear sputum

1

 

white to gray

2

 

light yellow or green

3

 

dark yellow or green

4

 

total score =

= SUM(points for all 4 parameters)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 14

• The higher the score the more severe the disease.


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Specialty

Objective

ICD-10