Defining COPD exacerbations by questionnaire

In association with United Biosource Corp., Jones et al are championing a patient questionnaire called EXACT-PRO that seeks to standardize the definition of a COPD exacerbation. Here, they report on the production of their proposed 14-item measure to diagnose and grade the severity of COPD exacerbations. Breathlessness, cough-and-sputum, and chest symptoms form the core of the EXACT test, which the team intends to promulgate for use as a standard measure in clinical trials. CHEST 2011;139:1388-1394.