Usefulness of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test to evaluate severity of COPD exacerbations

This study evaluated the usefulness of the CAT for assessing exacerbation severity in 161 patients with COPD; patients completed the CAT at baseline (ie stable state), exacerbation, and over a 5-week period during recovery. As part of the study, FEV1 and FVC were measured using a Vitalograph wedge bellows spirometer.