Different Pattern of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test Score between Chronic Bronchitis and Non-chronic Bronchitis Patients.

Abstract

BackgroundChronic bronchitis (CB) is an important phenotype in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The purpose of this study is to evaluate different pattern of COPD assessment test (CAT) score between CB and non-CB patients.MethodsPatients were recruited from 45 centers in Korea, as part of the Korean COPD Subgroup Study cohort. CB was defined when sputum continued for at least 3 months.ResultsTotal 958 patients with COPD were eligible for analysis. Among enrolled patients, 328 (34.2%) were compatible with CB. The CAT score was significantly higher in patients with CB than non-CB, and each component of CAT score showed a similar result. CB was significantly associated with CAT score when adjusted with age, sex, modified Medical Research Council, and post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Each component of CAT score between patients with CB and non-CB showed different pattern according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease grade.ConclusionCAT score is significantly higher in patients with CB than non-CB. Each component of CAT score was significantly different between two groups.