Pulmonology Assessment
Use when asked to administer, score, or explain a Pulmonology Assessment — respiratory evaluation using GOLD staging for COPD — grounded in FormExamples/form-examples; related to respirology-assessment.
Respiratory evaluation using GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) staging, with spirometry, exacerbation history, and functional assessment.
Scoring
Instrument: GOLD Stage, based on FEV1. Range I–IV.
- I (Mild) — FEV1 ≥ 80%.
- II (Moderate) — 50–79%.
- III (Severe) — 30–49%.
- IV (Very Severe) — < 30%.
What it covers
Demographics; chief complaint; spirometry results; symptom assessment; exacerbation history; current medications; allergies; comorbidities; smoking and exposures; and functional status.
Relationship to respirology-assessment
This assessment is specifically GOLD/COPD-staging-focused; Respirology Assessment uses the MRC Dyspnoea Scale and covers a broader respiratory symptom range not limited to COPD staging. Use whichever instrument matches the specific clinical question (COPD staging vs. general breathlessness evaluation).
Common pitfalls
- Staging COPD from spirometry alone without exacerbation history — current GOLD assessment (ABCD groups in the full framework) combines spirometric stage with symptom burden and exacerbation history; spirometry alone gives an incomplete picture of disease impact.
- Missing smoking-cessation counselling as part of the assessment — smoking status and exposure history exist in the assessment specifically because cessation is the single highest-impact intervention available for most COPD patients.
- Treating a single spirometry reading as definitive — spirometry quality and reproducibility vary; a borderline or unexpected result often warrants repeat testing before finalizing a stage.
Learn more
- FormExamples: pulmonology-assessment for the full implementation, clinical references, and worked examples.
- Respirology Assessment, Asthma Assessment for related respiratory assessments.