Canadian respiratory journal : journal of the Canadian Thoracic Society
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Comparison of Canadian versus United States emergency department visits for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation.
Despite the frequency of emergency department (ED) visits for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation, little is known about practice variation in EDs. ⋯ Overall, patients with acute COPD in Canada and the US appear to have similar history, ED treatment and outcomes; however, Canadian patients are older and receive more aggressive treatment in the ED. In both countries, the prolonged length of stay and high admission rate contribute to the ED overcrowding crisis facing EDs.