Description

Pardee et al developed a simple score based on clinical findings for the evaluation of a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This can help to identify a patient with significant impairment of pulmonary function. The authors are from the Mason Clinic in Seattle, Washington.


Parameters:

(1) breath sound score

(2) tensing of scalene muscles (palpable bilateral firming of the scalene muscles with each inspiration)

(3) wheezing

(4) crackling cough

 

Breath sounds are evaluated in the six lung fields (upper, mid and lower for the left and right side).

 

Breath Sound in Field

Points

silent

0

barely audible

1

not as loud as normal

2

normal

3

louder than normal

4

 

breath sound score =

= SUM(points for all 6 lung fields)

 

Parameter

Finding

Points

breath sound score

16 to 24

0

 

13 to 15

1

 

7 to 12

2

 

0 to 6

3

tensing of scalene muscles

absent

0

 

present but only positive sign

0

 

present and other findings present

1

wheezing

absent

0

 

present

1

crackling cough

absent

0

 

present

1

 

total score =

= SUM(points for the 4 parameters)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 6

• The higher the score the worse the FEV1.

 

Total Score

FEV1 as Percent of Predicted (Mean)

0

89%

1

69%

2

62%

3

47%

4

33%

5

31%

6

17%

 


To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.