Prediction of severe acute exacerbation using changes in breathing pattern of COPD patients on home noninvasive ventilation

摘要

IntroductionAcute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) is associated with poor outcome. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is recommended to treat end-stage COPD. We hypothesized that changing breathing pattern of COPD patients on NIV could identify patients with severe AECOPD prior to admission.