Chest
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Prospective multicenter study of relapse following emergency department treatment of COPD exacerbation.
To determine the incidence and risk factors of relapse after an emergency department (ED) visit for COPD exacerbation. ⋯ Among patients discharged to home after ED treatment of a COPD exacerbation, one in five patients will experience an urgent/emergent relapse event during the next 2 weeks. Both chronic factors (ie, a history of urgent clinic or ED visits) and acute factors (ie, activity limitations and initial respiratory rate) are associated with increased risk. Further research should focus on ways to decrease the relapse rate among these high-risk patients. The clinicians may wish to consider these historical factors when making ED decisions.