ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical value of three clinical methods for rating dyspnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MethodsSixty-six patients with stable COPD visiting the respiratory department between January 2012 and December 2014 were recruited in the study. Quality of life was assessed by the Chinese version SF-36,and dyspnea was assessed by the medical research council scale (MRC),oxygen-cost diagram (OCD) and baseline dyspnea index (BDI),respectively. All patients underwent pulmonary function test. ResultsDyspnea scores from all three methods were significantly correlated (r value ranged from -0.855 to 0.915),but they had no correlation with height,age or weight. Dyspnea scores obtained from the MRC,OCD and BDI correlated significantly with FVC,FEV1,RV/TLC and DLCO(r value ranged from 0.269 to -0.461),but not obviously correlated with FEV1/FVC. Three dyspnea scores were all significantly correlated with six components of the SF-36,except the role limitations due to emotional problems and mental healthy. The spirometic values were significantly correlated with two components of the SF-36,including physical functioning and role limitations due to emotional problem. Dyspnea had more closely correlation with the life quality than the spirometic values. ConclusionThree methods for rating dyspnea show good consistency with different physiological index.