A new multicenter cohort study proposes a comprehensive approach to diagnosing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, incorporating computed tomography imaging and respiratory symptoms to identify at-risk patients and uses airflow obstruction as the major criterion with additional minor criteria. The findings were validated in an independent cohort, demonstrating higher risk of poor outcomes for patients diagnosed by the minor diagnostic category. The study population involved individuals aged 45 to 80 years who currently or formerly smoked, and the rationale for the new criteria is to provide a more comprehensive diagnostic approach by integrating imaging findings with symptom measures.

Source: JAMA