Tiotropium Bromide Attenuates Mucus Hypersecretion in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Table 1

The standard of clinical macroscopic observation of sputum characteristics.

Symptoms/signs	Grading standard
	0 points (-)	1 points (+)	2 points (++)	3 points (+++)
Characteristics of sputum	Pure and transparent, nonmucinous sputum	A little purulent transparent sputum	Purulent mucus (purulent<2/3)	Purulent mucus (purulent≥2/3)
Difficulty of expectoration	No phlegm	Sputum is easy to cough up	Sputum is difficult to cough up	On difficult cough
Sputum volume	The amount of expectoration was less than 10 ml	The expectoration volume is 10~50 ml day and night	The expectoration volume is 50~100 ml day and night	The amount of expectoration was more than 100 ml day and night
Cough	No cough	Mild cough, does not affect normal life and work	Between mild cough and severe cough	Severe cough, frequent cough day and night, affect work and sleep