The DOSE index in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: evaluating healthcare costs – BMC Pulmonary Medicine
Background and objectives The DOSE index, which incorporates Dyspnea, Obstruction, Smoking, and Exacerbations, is a widely used tool for assessing the severity and prognosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In addition to risk assessment, it has potential clinical utility in predicting healthcare costs, which are primarily driven by exacerbations. While several indices, such as the BODE (Body-mass index, Obstruction, Dyspnea, Exercise) and ADO (Age, Dyspnea, Obstruction) indices, exist for risk prediction, there is a lack of dedicated tools for forecasting healthcare costs. This study explores the potential of the DOSE index compared to other indices, including BODE, ADO, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), for this purpose. Materials and methods This cross-sectional retrospective study analyzed data from 396 COPD cases. We examined associations between the DOSE index, BODE index, ADO index, CCI, and healthcare costs, including hospitalizations and emergency room
