Is there a role for cough peak flow in assessment of patients with severe COPD?

ObjectiveTo assess cough peak flow in patients with frequent infective exacerbations of COPD.DesignCross-sectional controlled clinical study.SettingsPulmonary function laboratory of the Chest Department of Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt.PatientsForty male patients with severe COPD; twenty with stable disease and twenty with more than two exacerbations in the last year were included in the study.InterventionsSpirometry and cough peak flows were measured at least six weeks after recovery from their last exacerbation.ResultsBoth groups were matched as regards demographics and lung functions. There was a statistically significant lower CPF in the frequent exacerbation group.ConclusionCough peak flow can guide respiratory physicians in fine tuning the management of patients with severe COPD to their particular needs.