Predictors of Acute Exacerbation in Patients With COPD - an Observational Study

Patients will be recruited during an inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program. This setting offers a unique opportunity to study the phenomenon of an acute exacerbation of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease prior to the first visible clinical sign and further on to have a follow up of the underlying mechanisms. All COPD patients that are referred to the reference center for a rehabilitation program will be included after providing written informed consent. Prospectively, a wide range of measurements will be collected. If a patient develops an acute exacerbation there will be a comprehensive diagnostic assessment to differentiate between pulmonary, cardiac or cardio-pulmonary reasons for the exacerbation. The clinical diagnosis of an AECOPD will be made by a pulmonologist according to criteria of international guidelines within the first 24h of clinical symptoms suggestive of an exacerbation.