Predict Life Expectancy in People with Emphysema
To predict life expectancy in people with emphysema, doctors often use the BODE Index. This technique measures survival times based on 4 factors. These include:
– BMI or the body mass index
– Obstruction of the airflow
– Dyspnea or shortness of breath
– Exercise tolerance
You will be graded from 10 to 0, with higher grades indicating shorter survival times and vice versa. Based on these figures, your doctor would predict the probability of surviving in the next 4 or 5 years.
– 7-10 points: 18%
– 5-6 points: 57%
– 3-4 points: 67%
– 0-2 points: 80% [9]
