List of potential treatable traits within the extrapulmonary domain to consider in patients with chronic airway disease
| Trait | Trait identification marker/diagnostic criteria | Possible treatments | Evidence level I–IV# |
| Depression | Questionnaires (e.g. HADS depression domain score ≥8, GADS score >5), psychologist/liaison psychiatrist assessment | CBT, pharmacotherapy | I |
| Anxiety | Questionnaires (e.g. HADS anxiety domain score ≥8), psychologist/liaison psychiatrist assessment | Pharmacotherapy (i.e., anxiolytics/antidepressants), breathing retraining, CBT | I |
| Dysfunctional breathing | Nijmegen Questionnaire Total score ≥23, B-PAT (breathing pattern assessment tool) score >4, breath holding time, manual assessment of respiratory motion (MARM) | Breathing retraining | I |
| Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour | Actigraphy, International Physical Activity Questionnaire | Pulmonary rehabilitation, physical activity, breaking bouts of sedentary activity | I |
| Overweight/obesity | Overweight: BMI 25–29.9 kg·m−2 Obesity: BMI ≥30 kg·m−2 | Caloric restriction, exercise, bariatric surgery, pharmacotherapy | I–II |
| Deconditioning | Cardiopulmonary exercise testing, 6MWT | Structured exercise programme, rehabilitation | I+, II |
| Rhinosinusitis | History and examination, imaging (sinus CT), Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) | Topical corticosteroids, leukotriene receptor antagonists, antihistamines, surgery, intranasal saline lavage | II |
| VCD | Questionnaires (e.g. Pittsburgh ≥4), laryngoscopy, dynamic neck CT, inspiratory flow–volume curve | Speech pathology intervention, laryngeal botulinum toxin, gabapentin/pregabalin, psychology/psychiatry | II |
| Systemic inflammation | Leukocyte count >9×109 cells·L−1or high-sensitivity CRP >3 mg·L−1 | Statins¶ | II |
| Anaemia | Males: Hb <140 g·L−1 Females: Hb <120 g·L−1 | Haematinic (iron/B12) supplementation | I+, IV |
| Cardiovascular disease | Doppler echocardiography, Electrocardiogram, brain natriuretic peptide | Pharmacotherapy (β-blockers, diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors), surgery | II |
| GORD | Questionnaires, gastrointestinal endoscopy, pH monitoring | Anti-reflux lifestyle measures, antacids, proton pump inhibitors, fundoplication surgery | II |
| OSA | Questionnaires (i.e., STOP-Bang Questionnaire), polysomnography | CPAP, mandibular advancement splint, positional therapy, weight loss | III-2 |
HADS: hospital anxiety and depression scale; GADS: Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale; CBT: cognitive behavioural therapy; BMI: body mass index; 6MWT: 6-min walk test; VCD: vocal cord dysfunction; CRP: C-reactive protein; Hb: haemoglobin; GORD: gastro-oesophageal reflux disease; OSA: obstructive sleep apnoea; CPAP: continuous positive airway pressure. #: NHMRC level of evidence currently available for the management/treatment of each trait; ¶: currently research only; +: evidence from the general population. Content has been reproduced with permission from the Centre of Excellence in Treatable Traits, originally developed as part of the Centre of Excellence in Treatable Traits (https://treatabletraits.org.au).