Dear Editor

The publication of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline on the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults in primary and secondary care [1] is timely and in synchrony with the transatlantic publication of the body-mass index (B), airflow obstruction (O), dyspnoea (D), and exercise capacity (E) index in predicting risk of death in patients with COPD.[2] In fact, measurements of the prognostic factors outlined in the BODE index were recommended by NICE for inclusion in the day-to-day management of COPD, albeit individually as separate entities. The practicality of the BODE index lies in the combination and validation of the most significant of these individual factors into a clinically relevant prognostic indicator. Hand-in-hand, the NICE guideline and the BODE index, will serve to better the management of patients with COPD.

References

1. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: National clinical guideline on management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults in primary and secondary care. Thorax 2004;59(Suppl 1):1-232.

2. Celli BR, Cote CG, Marin JM, Casanova C, Montes de Oca M, Mendez RA, Pinto Plata V, Cabral HJ. The body-mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity index in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. N Engl J Med 2004;350:1005-12.