Evidence-based On-call

internal medicine

Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Prevalence
Clinical features
Differential Diagnosis
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis

Investigations

arterial blood gases ^b

Why?

One in five patients have carbon dioxide retention: (19%: 95% CI: 14% to 23%) ^b

Expiry date: July 2003
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides

Author	CM Ball
Reviewer	N R Anthonisen
CAT Writers	B Phillips , CJ Wotton , CM Ball