Using a symptom checklist to predict surgery risks in lung disease patients

Researchers want to understand whether a simple questionnaire called the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) can help doctors predict which patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at higher risk for breathing complications after surgery. You would complete this 8-question survey before your scheduled operation and allow researchers to track whether your symptoms matched your actual surgical outcomes.

People with COPD often have more trouble after surgery, especially with their breathing, but doctors don't always have a reliable way to predict who will struggle most. This study tests whether the straightforward symptom checklist could help surgical and anesthesia teams prepare better and keep patients safer.