Evidence-based On-call

internal medicine

Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Prevalence
Clinical features
Differential Diagnosis
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis

Prognosis

Further exacerbations ^b

and readmissions are common. ^b

Note:

54% will have 3 or more exacerbations in the next year (95% CI: 43% to 66%) ^b
70% are readmitted within a year (95% CI: 62% to 78%) ^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