D — Dyspnea at Baseline (eMRCD Scale — extended MRC Dyspnea Scale)

eMRCD 1–4 (mMRC 0–3): able to leave house; not severely disabled by dyspnea at baseline — 0 points+0eMRCD 5a: too breathless to leave the house but independent with washing/dressing — 1 point+1eMRCD 5b: too breathless to leave house AND needs help with washing and/or dressing — 2 points+2

E — Eosinopenia (Absolute Eosinophil Count on Admission CBC)

Eosinophils ≥ 0.05 × 10⁹/L (≥ 50 cells/µL) — normal or elevated — 0 points+0Eosinophils < 0.05 × 10⁹/L (< 50 cells/µL) — eosinopenia present — 1 point+1

C — Consolidation on Admission Chest X-ray

No consolidation on admission CXR — 0 points+0Consolidation present on admission CXR (new/newly worsened) — 1 point+1

A — Acidemia (Arterial Blood Gas pH)

pH ≥ 7.30 on admission ABG (or no ABG performed / venous pH ≥ 7.30) — 0 points+0pH < 7.30 on admission ABG (severe acidemia / hypercapnic respiratory failure) — 1 point+1

F — Atrial Fibrillation

No atrial fibrillation (sinus rhythm on ECG, no history of AF) — 0 points+0Atrial fibrillation present on admission ECG or documented history of AF — 1 point+1

DECAF Score for Acute Exacerbation of COPD

DECAF Score for Acute Exacerbation of COPD