Diagnosis of COPD should be considered in any patient who has the following:

• symptoms of cough
• sputum production or
• dyspnoea or
• history of exposure to risk factors for the disease.

The diagnosis requires spirometry; post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.7 confirms the presence of airflow limitation that is not fully reversible.

Spirometry should be obtained in all persons with the following history:

• exposure to cigarettes and/or environmental or occupational pollutants
• family history of chronic respiratory illness
• presence of cough, sputum production or dyspnoea.