Inclusion criteria | Exclusion criteria |
---|---|
• COPD GOLD stage III-IV (that is, FEV1/FVC <0.70 and FEV1 <50% of predicted value). | • Need of NIV or manual ventilation at time of randomization |
• Acute exacerbation of COPD (for example, Anthonisen et al. definition [12]). | • Severely overweightb |
• >45 years | • Serious comorbidity: |
• pH >7.35 | • Unstable heart diseasec |
• Compliance (see, hear, the ability to understand and carry out self-monitoring tasks). | • Poorly regulated diabetesd |
• Expected hospitalization > 2 daysa | • Malignancy |
• Other diseases/conditions that make participation impossible (dementia, delirium etcetera). | |
• Temperature >38°C or need for IV antibiotics | |
• Noncompliance (nursing home resident, tourist etcetera). | |
• Participation in another trial |