Abstract
Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) are the second most common cause of emergency hospitalisation worldwide, with one-quarter of patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge [1]. Each exacerbation accelerates lung function decline [2] and is associated with a deterioration in health-related quality of life and an increased risk of mortality in the post-discharge period [3]. Several pathophysiological changes including decreased peak expiratory flow rate and increased dyspnoea often occur in the 3–5 days preceding an exacerbation [4].
Respiratory waveforms can be reduced to simple metrics, such as rate, but this may miss information about waveform shape and whole breathing pattern. A novel analysis method quantifying the whole waveform shape identifies AECOPD earlier.
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