Table 2 Identified outcomes for in-hospital management of COPD exacerbation

· Readmission: 30-day, 3-month, 6-month, 1-year

· Inhaled β-agonist therapy is required no more frequentlythan every four hours

· Number of hospital admissions

· Interval before next admission

· Patient, if previously ambulatory, is able to cope with basic needsin his/her situation, in usual environment

· Frequency and severity of exacerbation

· Mortality: in-hospital, 30-day, 3-month, 6-month, 1-year

· Patient is able to eat and sleep without frequent awakening by dyspnoea

· Survival: 1-year

· Length of stay (LOS)

· Patient has been clinically sTable for 12 to 24 hours

· Level of understanding of inhaler therapy

· Last measure of arterial blood gases (ABGs) were accepTableaccording to condition of the patient

· Compliance with home oxygen therapy

· Performance of physical exercise

· Patient and/or home caregiver fully understands correct use of therapy:oral medication therapy, inhaler therapy, oxygen therapy if homeoxygen therapy

· Smoking status: 30-day, 3-month, 6-month, 1-year

· Symptoms of anxiety and depression

Patient, family, and physician are confident that the patient canmanage successfully

· Health-related quality of life (HRQL): symptoms, disability,morbidity and quality of life; psychological well-being)

· Lung function parameters: forced expiratory volume in onesecond (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), inspiratory capacity

· Health status

· Quality-adjusted life expectancy measure (QALY) anddisability adjusted life years (DALY)

· Quality of sleep

· Functional capacity

· Nutritional status

· Exercise capacity

· Patients’ perception of coordination between hospital andhome healthcare

· Physical performance: 6-minute walking distance (6-MWD),20-MWD, shuttle walk test, maximum workload, treadmill time,maximum oxygen uptake, quadriceps strength, hand grip force,maximal inspiratory mouth pressure

· Patient satisfaction with therapy and care

· Adverse event related to regular clinical examination by an investigator

· Severity of breathlessness: dyspnea, symptoms at rest andduring exercise

· Cost of illness (COI) analysis

· Absenteeism