| Grade | Description of breathlessness |
| 0 | I only get breathless with strenuous exercise |
| 1 | I get short of breath when hurrying on level ground or walking up a slight hill |
| 2 | On level ground, I walk slower than people of the same age because of breathlessness, or have to stop for breath when walking at my own pace |
| 3 | I stop for breath after walking about 100 yards or after a few minutes on level ground |
| 4 | I am too breathless to leave the house or I am breathless when dressing |
