History (Symptoms) & Physical
Standards for the diagnosis and treatment
Obstructive airways
disease, excluding
Exam Findings* and/or
of patients with COPD: a summary of the
PFTs/Spirometry*
asthma and reactive
ATS/ERS position paper (2004)
3
Radiographic/imaging
airways disease
rces/copd/copdexecsum.pdf
(required to support diagnosis of
4
bronchiectasis
)
Diagnosis and Management of Stable
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A
Note: For WTC-exacerbated
Clinical Practice Guideline from the
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
American College of Physicians, American
Disease (COPD), there must be
College of Chest Physicians, American
evidence that COPD was present
Thoracic Society, and European Respiratory
prior to September 11, 2001 and
5
Society (2011)
worsened after exposure.
rces /copd/179full.pdf
History (Symptoms) & Physical
NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood
Obstructive airways
disease—asthma and
Exam Findings* and/or
Institute (NHLBI) Guidelines for the
PFTs/Spirometry*
reactive airways
Diagnosis and Management of Asthma
disease only
(National Asthma Education and Program
(NAEPP)Expert Panel Report(EPR)-3, in
2007)
pro/guidelines/current/asthma-guidelines
3
Obstructive airways disease (OAD) is a broad category of respiratory diseases which are characterized by varying degrees
of reversible and irreversible airways obstruction and include chronic respiratory disorder (fumes/vapors), chronic cough
syndrome, WTC-exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and reactive airways dysfunction syndrome
(RADS).
4
Bronchiectasis is certifiable as WTC-related chronic respiratory disorder (fumes/vapors) and/or as a medically associated
health condition to a certifiable WTC-related health condition under certain lung disease categories.
5
Evidence supporting a diagnosis of WTC-exacerbated COPD consists of one or more of the following: (1) a record of
physician diagnosis of COPD made prior to the individual’s 9/11 exposure; (2) history of symptoms of chronic cough,
sputum production and/or dyspnea experienced prior to the individual’s 9/11 exposure; (3) a history of recurrent
bronchopulmonary infections experienced prior to the individual’s 9/11 exposure; (4) a record of pulmonary function tests
showing chronic airways obstruction existing prior to the individual’s 9/11 exposure; and/or (5) a record of imaging studies
consistent with COPD existing prior to the individual’s 9/11 exposure.