Result

This COPD Audit measured the level of COPD care in Europe and developed a core data set that can be used to audit COPD in acute hospital admissions across Europe with a view to raising the standards of care to a level consistent with the European management guidelines.

Together with 650 investigators data from more than 16,000 patients and 421 hospitals from 13 European countries was collected (click here for the overview) and has shown major differences in the way that COPD patients are treated both between countries but also within each country.

The final results of this variation in care will be published in the International COPD Audit Report which can be ordered soon (more information about the International COPD Audit Report) though the preliminary results have been presented during several sessions at the ERS Annual Congress, 24th - 28th September 2011.