Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) describe the phenomenon of sudden worsening in airway function and respiratory symptoms in patients with COPD. These exacerbations can range from self-limited diseases to episodes of respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. The patients with COPD experiences such episode and can account for significant consumption of health care resources. An AECOPD is a clinical diagnosis made when a patient with COPD experiences a sustained (24–48 h) increase in a cough, sputum production, and/or dyspnea.
AECOPD has clinical consequences ranging from a self-limited illness to progressive respiratory failure. The average patient with COPD experiences two episodes of AECOPD per year and 10% of these episodes require hospitalization. Etiology Although bacterial infections are the most common causes of AECOPD, viral…
