Name: COPD Assessment Test (CAT)
Published: 2024-11-01T17:07:17.714Z
Keywords: CAT, COPD, Dyspnea, Pulmonology, Shortness of Breath

Summary

The COPD Assessment Test (CAT) is a validated framework for quantifying symptom burden to guide therapy. The Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) treatment guidelines include the CAT and the Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale score as components of a multi-faceted assessment and treatment approach to patients with COPD.

The mMRC Dyspnea Scale score, or another dyspnea measurement, such as the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), is combined with the patient's FEV1 precent predicted and the frequency of COPD exacerbations to guide treatment interventions.

Formula

Each symptom is rated on a scale of 0-5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe symptoms is a 5.
Addition of the selected points.

Symptom	Points
Cough	0 "I never cough" 1 2 3 4 5 "I cough all the time"
Phlegm	0 "I have no phlegm in my chest at all" 1 2 3 4 5 "My chest is completely full of phlegm"
Chest Tightness	0 "My chest does not feel tight at all" 1 2 3 4 5 "My chest feels very tight"
Breathlessness	0 "When I walk up a hill or one flight of stairs I am not breathless" 1 2 3 4 5 "When I walk up a hill or one flight of stairs I am very breathless"
Activities	0 "I am not limited doing any activities at home" 1 2 3 4 5 "I am very limited doing any activities at home"
Confidence	0 "I am confident leaving my home despite my lung condition" 1 2 3 4 5 "I am not at all confident leaving my home because of my lung condition"
Sleep	0 "I sleep soundly" 1 2 3 4 5 "I don't sleep soundly because of my lung condition"
Energy	0 "I have lots of energy" 1 2 3 4 5 "I have no energy at all"

Interpretation

CAT Score	Health Impact
0-10	Low
11-20	Medium
21-30	High
31-40	Very High

Recommendations

The Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) treatment guidelines include the CAT and the Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale score as components of a multi-faceted assessment and treatment approach to patients with COPD.
The CAT is combined with other dyspnea measurements, such as the mMRC Dyspnea Scale score, the patient's FEV1 precent predicted and the frequency of COPD exacerbations to guide treatment interventions.

COPD Assessment Test (CAT)

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