Several subclassifications have been proposed : simple chronic bronchitis describes a condition characterized by mucoid sputum production ; chronic mucopurulent bronchitis is characterized by persistent or recurrent purulence of sputum in the absence of localized suppurative diseases such as bronchiectasis ; chronic bronchitis with obstruction deserves a separate classification characterized by presence of airway obstruction as assessed by the used of the forced expiratory vital capacity maneuver ; and chronic asthmatic bronchitis 它可以分为以下几种类型：单纯性慢性支气管炎，其特征为咳粘液性痰；慢性粘液脓性支气管炎，其特征是反复的或持续的咳脓痰，但肺部并无化脓性病变，如支气管扩张；慢性支气管炎伴阻塞，其特征为用力呼气肺活量测定时有气道阻塞的表现；慢性哮喘性支气管炎，其特征是患者有长期的咳嗽及咯痰史，后来肺部出现哮鸣者，因此与哮喘伴慢性气管阻塞的病人不同。
