(August 27, 2009 - Insidermedicine) An updated assessment tool for predicting survival rates for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is more accurate and easier to use than an older tool, according to research published in The Lancet.

Here is some information about COPD:

•    It refers to a collection of chronic lung diseases

•    Symptoms include shortness of breath, increased mucus, and coughing

•    Smoking is a major cause of COPD

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University tested the ability of the BODE index to predict 3-year survival rates for nearly 600 COPD patients. They then tweaked the tool and developed an easier to use tool to make predictions more accurate.

The standard BODE index was found to overestimate how long patients would live. The updated BODE tool, however, as well as the new, easier-to-use tool known as ADO predicted survival quite accurately.

Today's research introduces important new assessment tools that can help determine the prognosis of patients with COPD.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Kelly Schweitzer.