COPD Assessment Test (CAT)
Quantifies COPD symptom burden on patients' functional status
Jennifer Glen
Provided by
EVAL FoundationInstructions
The CAT tool does NOT diagnose COPD but was developed to address COPD burden in daily life.
- 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.
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
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.
All questions & possible results
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Cough
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
Select one option:
- 0 "I never cough"
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5 "I cough all the time"
Phlegm
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
Select one option:
- 0 "I have no phlegm in my chest at all"
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5 "My chest is completely full of phlegm"
Chest tightness
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
Select one option:
- 0 "My chest does not feel tight at all"
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5 "My chest feels very tight"
Breathlessness
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
Select one option:
- 0 "When I walk up a hill or one flight of stairs I am not breathless"
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5 "When walk up a hill or one flight of stairs I am very breathless"
Activities
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
Select one option:
- 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
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
Select one option:
- 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
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
Select one option:
- 0 "I sleep soundly"
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5 "I do not sleep soundly because of my lung condition"
Energy
On a scale of 0 to 5. No symptoms is 0 and the most severe is 5.
Select one option:
- 0 "I have lots of energy"
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5 "I have no energy at all"
Possible results
CAT Score indicates HIGH health impact (21-30 points)
- 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.
CAT Score indicates VERY HIGH health impact (31-40 points)
- 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.
CAT Score indicates LOW health impact (0-10 points)
- 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.
CAT Score indicates MEDIUM health impact (11-20 points)
- 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.
Literature
- Development and first validation of the COPD Assessment Test. Eur Respir J. 2009 Sep;34(3):648-54. — Jones PW, Harding G, Berry P, Wiklund I, Chen WH, Kline Leidy N.
- The COPD assessment test (CAT): response to pulmonary rehabilitation. A multicentre, prospective study. Thorax. 2011 May;66(5):425-9. — Dodd JW, Hogg L, Nolan J, Jefford H, Grant A, Lord VM, Falzon C, Garrod R, Lee C, Polkey MI, Jones PW, Man WD, Hopkinson NS.
- Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of COPD. 2024 Report. — GOLD Science Committee Members (2023-2024)
- CAT-score is a predictor for mortality in COPD. European Respiratory Journal 2016; 48(suppl 60): PA3106 — Husebo G, Koll R, Nielsen A, Mestad K, Govertsen A, Laerum B.
- Creating scenarios of the impact of COPD and their relationship to COPD Assessment Test (CAT™) scores. BMC Pulm Med. 2011 Aug 11;11:42. — Jones PW, Tabberer M, Chen WH.
