COPD Management

Guideline-mapped workflow for patients with COPD based on the 2026 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidance.

Use this tool to structure diagnosis confirmation, symptom scoring, pharmacologic recommendations, preventive care review, and note generation.

Contributors

Abhimanyu Chandel, MD MAS
Ryan Fashempour, MD

1) COPD Confirmation Context

Management phase Age

Post-BD FEV1/FVC Enter either a ratio (0.65) or percent (65). Normalized ratio: -- FEV1 % predicted Resting SpO2 % Post-bronchodilator spirometry confirms COPD (FEV1/FVC < 0.70)

2) Symptom Burden

CAT or CAAT score (0-40) mMRC dyspnea score (0-4)

Enter scores manually, or use the calculators below.

CAT Calculator

Higher CAT totals correlate with worse symptom burden.

Cough Phlegm Chest tightness Breathless on hill/stairs Limited in home activities Confidence leaving home Sleep quality Energy

CAT total: --/40

mMRC Calculator (0-4)

0: Breathless only with strenuous exercise. 1: Short of breath when hurrying on level ground or walking up a slight hill. 2: Walks slower than peers on level ground, or stops for breath at own pace. 3: Stops for breath after about 100 meters or a few minutes on level ground. 4: Too breathless to leave house, or breathless with dressing/undressing.

mMRC selected: --/4

3) Exacerbation History (Previous 12 Months)

Moderate exacerbations Required oral steroids and/or antibiotics Severe exacerbations Required hospitalization

Leave counts blank only if the prior-year exacerbation history is truly unavailable. Enter explicit 0 when no exacerbations occurred.

4) Biomarkers, Smoking, and Phenotype

Blood eosinophils (cells/uL) Smoking status

Pack-year history Cigarettes per day (if currently smoking)

First cigarette within 30 minutes of waking Chronic bronchitis phenotype present (chronic productive cough for 3 months in the year) Concomitant asthma suspected/confirmed Patient has lived or resided in an endemic area for parasitic infection

5) Preventive Care Status

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency screening Pneumococcal vaccine status

RSV vaccine status Zoster vaccine status Tdap or tetanus booster within the last 10 years

6) Current Maintenance Status

Current COPD maintenance regimen

Persistent dyspnea or activity limitation despite therapy Significant ICS side effects, severe/recurrent pneumonia, or no clear ICS response

COPD Management

1) COPD Confirmation Context

2) Symptom Burden

CAT Calculator

mMRC Calculator (0-4)

3) Exacerbation History (Previous 12 Months)

4) Biomarkers, Smoking, and Phenotype

5) Preventive Care Status

6) Current Maintenance Status

Assessment Summary

Recommended Management Steps

Medication Details

Preventive Care and Screening

Rationale Trace

Safety Checks

Non-Pharmacologic Core Bundle

Copy/Paste Clinical Note