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Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Prevalence
Clinical features
Differential Diagnosis
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis
Investigations
  • chest X-ray c in all patients a

Why?

  • Abnormal chest X-ray are common (40%: 95% CI: 37% to 49%) and clinical features do not usefully predict normal films. a
  • A fifth of patients have an chest X-ray that alters management (21%: 95% CI: 14% to 28%) c

 

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