Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
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Multicenter Study
Emergency department management of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the elderly: the Multicenter Airway Research Collaboration.
To determine adherence of emergency department (ED) management of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to current treatment guidelines. ⋯ Important differences exist between guideline recommendations and actual ED management of COPD exacerbations in older adults. Outcomes after ED treatment are poor and may be related to these shortcomings in quality of care. Better adherence to guideline recommendations when caring for elderly patients with COPD exacerbations may lead to improved clinical outcomes and better resource usage.