Canadian Respiratory Journal (Jan 2013)
Variations in the Management of Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for patients with COPD. AECOPD are the leading cause of hospital admissions in Canada. Although multiple guidelines have been developed for the acute and chronic management of COPD, there are few quality assurance studies investigating adherence to these guidelines.