Predictors of mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has become a major and growing health problem, with a mortality rate that continues to increase. Several factors, have been identified as individual predictors of mortality in COPD. This article reviews individual predictors for mortality. It also discusses the ability of an integrated, multidimensional tool to more broadly characterize COPD severity, assess response to therapeutic interventions and exacerbations, and predict mortality.