Group | Title | Characteristics |
1 | Acute bronchitis | Healthy people |
| | No previous respiratory problems |
2 | Simple chronic bronchitis | Cough plus sputum for 3 months of 2 consecutive yrs |
| | Age<65 yrs |
| Moderate or no respiratory impaiment |
| <4 exacerbations·yr−1 |
3 | Complicated chronic bronchitis | Cough plus sputum for 3 months of 2 consecutive yrs |
| | Age>65 yrs or FEV1<50% or >4 exacerbations·yr−1 |
4 | Chronic bronchitis with other risk factors | Group 2 or 3 with risk factors for poor outcomes e.g. comorbid illness |
5 | Bronchiectasis | Chronic purulent sputum production |