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Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Prevalence
Clinical features
Differential Diagnosis
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis
Investigations
  • peak-expiratory flow-rate before and after therapy a b c
  • spirometry when recovered a  

Why?

  • Peak flow measurements can help diagnose COPD. a b
  • Physicians are poor at predicting FEV1 in patients with COPD exacerbations and poor at predicting the response to therapy. c
  • Spirometry is the reference standard.

 

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