TABLE 6

Branches in the decision tree and an overview of the predicted diagnoses

Rule branchMain outcomeTotal leaf n (% total leaf)ACOS n (% total)COPD n (% total)Asthma n (% total)Other# n (% total)
FEV1/FVC ≥70% predictedAsthma1415 (15.2)11 (0.8)3 (0.2)1108 (78.3)293 (20.7)
Onset age <38 years
≥1 allergy
Reversibility <7%
FEV1/FVC ≥70% predictedAsthma724 (7.8)11 (1.5)1 (0.1)647 (89.4)65 (9.0)
Onset age <38 years
≥1 allergy
Reversibility ≥7%
FEV1/FVC ≥70% predictedAsthma829 (8.9)16 (1.9)5 (0.6)593 (71.5)215 (25.9)
Onset age <38 years
No allergy
Wheezing
FEV1/FVC ≥70% predictedAsthma548 (5.9)11 (2.0)7 (1.3)276 (50.4)254 (46.4)
Onset age ≥38 years
≥1 allergy
Reversibility <7%
FEV1/FVC ≥70% predictedAsthma181 (1.9)8 (4.4)2 (1.1)133 (73.5)38 (21.0)
Onset age ≥38 years
≥1 allergy
Reversibility ≥7%
FEV1/FVC <70% predictedAsthma356 (3.8)35 (9.8)43 (12.2)219 (61.5)59 (16.6)
Never smoked
FEV1/FVC <70% predictedACOS783 (8.4)302 (38.6)252 (32.2)183 (23.4)46 (5.9)
Onset age <38 years
Smoked
FEV1/FVC <70% predictedCOPD1142 (12.3)164 (14.4)928 (81.3)19 (1.7)31 (2.7)
Onset age ≥38 years
Smoked
FEV1 <78% predicted
FEV1/FVC <70% predictedCOPD257 (2.8)26 (10.1)203 (79.0)11 (4.3)17 (6.6)
Onset age ≥38 years
Smoked
FEV1 ≥78% and <92% predicted
Reversibility <7%
FEV1/FVC <70% predictedCOPD168 (1.8)56 (33.3)79 (47.0)18 (10.7)15 (8.9)
Onset age ≥38 years
Smoked
FEV1 ≥78% and <92% predicted
Reversibility ≥7%
FEV1/FVC <70% predictedCOPD238 (2.6)32 (13.4)127 (53.4)32 (13.4)47 (19.7)
Onset age ≥38 years
Smoked
FEV1 ≥92% predicted
FEV1/FVC ≥70% predictedOther#1961 (21.2)33 (1.7)61 (3.1)561 (28.6)1306 (66.6)
Onset age ≥38 years
No allergy
FEV1/FVC ≥70% predictedOther#695 (7.5)6 (0.9)5 (0.7)323 (46.8)359 (51.7)
Onset age <38 years
No allergy
No wheezing
  • ACOS: asthma–COPD overlap syndrome; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC: forced vital capacity. #: “diagnosis unclear”, “indication of restriction” or “no disease”. Bold indicates diagnoses that were correctly predicted. Spirometry results were taken after admission of bronchodilation.