TY - JOUR T1 - A systematic evaluation of the diagnostic criteria for COPD and exacerbations used in randomised controlled trials on the management of COPD exacerbations JF - ERJ Open Research JO - erjor DO - 10.1183/23120541.00136-2019 VL - 5 IS - 4 SP - 00136-2019 AU - Alexander G. Mathioudakis AU - Julie Janner AU - Mia Moberg AU - Pablo Alonso-Coello AU - Jørgen Vestbo Y1 - 2019/10/01 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/5/4/00136-2019.abstract N2 - Acute exacerbations are largely responsible for the morbidity and mortality that characterise chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [1]. Their optimal management still represents an urgent research priority [2]. Despite numerous randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the management of exacerbations, treatment has remained almost unchanged for over a decade and is only partly effective [1, 3]. Heterogeneity in the design of these trials has been an important obstacle, limiting the comparability of their findings. This heterogeneity has led recent Cochrane reviews to report limited confidence in the evidence supporting the most basic treatments used for exacerbations [4, 5].Clinical trials evaluating the management of #AECOPD use different diagnostic criteria for COPD and exacerbations, limiting their comparability http://bit.ly/33eIUUX ER -