Many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) develop episodes of exacerbation of respiratory symptoms (ECOPD) that may require hospitalization (H-ECOPD). Long-term prognosis during and following an H-ECOPD is poor, with a five-year mortality rate of about 50 % [1,2]. Factors independently associated with higher mortality risk include older age, lower body mass index, more severe respiratory symptoms, poorer quality of life, worse lung function, lower lung density (i.e., emphysema) and thickened bronchial walls on CT-scan, presence of comorbidities (e.g., cardiovascular disease or lung cancer), previous hospitalizations for ECOPD, clinical severity of the index exacerbation, and need for long-term oxygen therapy or ventilatory support at discharge [1,3].
