Overview (S-000085)
Commonly used to assess the health status of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the COPD assessment test (CAT) is an eight-item questionnaire focused on respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms, including: cough; phlegm; chest tightness; dyspnea; physical activity limitation; confidence leaving the home; sleep disturbance; and lack of energy (Jones et al., Eur. Respir. J. 34(3): 648-654, 2009). Although the CAT was validated for use as an eight-item questionnaire, a growing body of evidence suggests that individual CAT subitems contain useful information above and beyond that provided by the CAT total score regarding specific clinical and/or functional characteristics of COPD. For example, Raghavan et al. (J COPD. 9(2): 175-183, 2012) found that the CAT dyspnea item score – not CAT total score – helped to identify individuals from the general population with a high probability of having COPD and for whom spirometry testing is recommended. Von Siemens et al. (Respir. Med. 159, 105810, 2019) similarly reported that the CAT dyspnea subitem score – not CAT total score – was strongly associated with the presence of emphysema on chest CT scan. It remains unknown whether individual and/or grouped CAT subitem scores carry useful information regarding the existence of pathophysiological abnormalities in cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) outcomes in people with mild-to-moderate COPD.
Contact Details
- Name
- Dr Dennis Jensen
- Institution
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Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC)