The European respiratory journal : official journal of the European Society for Clinical Respiratory Physiology
-
Peak oxygen uptake (V'(O(2))) remains the gold standard measurement of exercise capacity and has been associated with survival. A modified BODE (body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnoea, exercise capacity) index replacing the 6-min walk distance (6MWD) with V'(O(2)) as % predicted (mBODE%) has been developed and found to have excellent correlation with the conventional BODE index. The objectives of the present study were to compare the ability of the conventional BODE and the mBODE% to predict mortality in 444 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) followed for a mean+/-SD period of 71+/-34 months. ⋯ Logistic regression analysis with COPD survival as the dependent variable identified the BODE index, Charlson's and exercise capacity (in W) as variables associated with this outcome. In conclusion, the conventional BODE index, which uses the 6-min walk distance, predicts mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as the modified index using peak oxygen uptake. The results support the use of the simpler index, which includes the 6-min walk distance in the comprehensive evaluation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.