A 68-year-old male with a 40 pack-year smoking history presents with progressive dyspnea and chronic morning cough. Spirometry demonstrates an FEV1/FVC ratio of 0.58 post-bronchodilator. What diagnostic criterion does this establish according to GOLD guidelines?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

  1. Step 1: The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) defines COPD by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible.
  2. Step 2: A post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio of less than 0.70 (70%) establishes the definitive diagnosis of COPD in a symptomatic patient.
Answer
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Why not the others: 'Moderate persistent bronchial asthma' typically shows significant reversibility (FEV1 increases > 12% and 200 mL); 'Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis' is a restrictive lung disease with normal or elevated FEV1/FVC; 'Pulmonary arterial hypertension' is diagnosed via right heart catheterization.

Practise more Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Pulmonology.

Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed National Health Regulatory Authority Licensure Examination (NHRA Bahrain) mock tests.

All Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Pulmonology questionsTake a mock test

More Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Pulmonology questions