Asthma vs COPD Presentation and Diagnosis Asthma: • Epidemiology: Age usually < 45, History (personal or family) of atopy is frequent • Symptoms: Cough, Dyspnea, Wheeze, Chest tightness, May be asymptomatic between exacerbations • Exam: Usually normal, if between exacerbations • PFT Findings: Variably abnormal spirometry - FEV1/FVC < 70%, Scooped out expiratory flow-volume curve, Low peak expiratory flow, Improvement following bronchodilator, Spirometry often normal or near normal between attacks COPD: • Epidemiology: Age usually > 45, Usually has smoked > 20 pack years • Symptoms: Cough, Dyspnea, Symptoms of right heart failure, Usually symptomatic between exacerbations • Exam: Decreased breath sounds, Hyperresonance, Hypoxemia/Cyanosis, Barrel chest, Pursed lip breathing, Subxiphoid PMI • COPD: Persistently abnormal spirometry - FEV1/FVC < 70%, Modest improvement following bronchodilator can be present - Dr. Eric Strong @DrEricStrong - Strong Medicine https://www.youtube.com/c/EricsMedi #Asthma #COPD #comparison #Diagnosis #pulmonary
