The present study aims to determine whether treating @entity1030 ( @entity1030 ) exacerbations with intravenous @entity230 and aerosol bronchodilators (group I) is superior to oral @entity230 and @entity4185 ( @entity4185 ) bronchodilators with a spacer (group II). Group I received 40 mg @entity1667 x day(-1) intravenously with a decrease to 20 mg after 10 days and a further decrease of 4 mg x 4 days(-1). Aerosol therapy consisted of 10 mg @entity3045 and 1 mg ipratropiumbromide x day(-1). Group II received 32 mg @entity1667 orally for 1 week followed by 24 mg x day(-1) for 4 days and a subsequent decrease of 4 mg x week(-1). Duovent @entity4185 with a spacer was given at a dose of 1.6 mg @entity7284 and 640 microg ipratropiumbromide x day(-1). In group I (n=19) forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) rose from 0.82+/-0.46 to 0.91+/-0.47 L and average dyspnoea decreased from 6.0+/-1.9 to 4.1+/-2.6 within 10 days. The @entity1576 Index Questionnaire (CRQ) score increased from 78+/-24 to 90+/-24 points after 4 weeks. In group II (n=18) FEV1 increased from 0.70+/-0.27 to 0.90+/-0.29 L, dyspnoea regressed from 6.2+/-2.4 to 2.7+/-2.6 and CRQ from 67+/-17 to 86+/-20. Both groups showed similar results in dropout rate, length of hospital stay and @entity1 satisfaction. In conclusion, the two treatment strategies appear equally effective in treating @entity1030 exacerbations, although oral @entity230 and metered dose inhaler bronchodilators appear associated with a higher risk of hospital re-admission.

What is the optimal treatment strategy for XXXX exacerbations?

@entity1667 :: ('MESH:D008775', 'Chemical') :: ['methylprednisolone'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patient'] @entity7284 :: ('MESH:D005280', 'Chemical') :: ['fenoterol'] @entity3045 :: ('MESH:D000420', 'Chemical') :: ['salbutamol'] @entity4185 :: ('MESH:D058545', 'Disease') :: ['MDI', 'multiple dose inhaler'] @entity1576 :: ('MESH:D012131', 'Disease') :: ['Chronic Respiratory Disease'] @entity1030 :: ('MESH:D029424', 'Disease') :: ['chronic obstructive pulmonary disease', 'COPD'] @entity230 :: ('MESH:D013256', 'Chemical') :: ['steroids']
@entity1030 :: (MESH:D029424,Disease) :: ['chronic obstructive pulmonary disease']
