1 | For ambulatory patients with an exacerbation of COPD, we suggest a short course (≤14 days) of oral corticosteroids | Conditional | Very low |
2 | For ambulatory patients with an exacerbation of COPD, we suggest the administration of antibiotics | Conditional | Moderate |
3 | For patients who are hospitalised with a COPD exacerbation, we suggest the administration of oral corticosteroids rather than intravenous corticosteroids if gastrointestinal access and function are intact | Conditional | Low |
4 | For patients who are hospitalised with a COPD exacerbation associated with acute or acute-on-chronic respiratory failure, we recommend the use of noninvasive mechanical ventilation | Strong | Low |
5 | For patients with a COPD exacerbation who present to the emergency department or hospital, we suggest a home-based management programme (hospital-at-home) | Conditional | Moderate |
6 | For patients who are hospitalised with a COPD exacerbation, we suggest the initiation of pulmonary rehabilitation within 3 weeks after hospital discharge | Conditional | Very low |
7 | For patients who are hospitalised with a COPD exacerbation, we suggest not initiating pulmonary rehabilitation during hospitalisation | Conditional | Very low |