PRACTICE CHANGER
Prescribe a five-day regimen of glucocorticoid therapy for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); the shorter course of treatment appears to be as effective as a 14-day regimen.1
Strength of recommendation
B: Based on a single well-designed randomized controlled trial (RCT).1
ILLUSTRATIVE CASE
A 55-year-old man with COPD presents to the emergency department (ED) with progressive shortness of breath, cough, and sputum production in the past four days. He is diagnosed with a COPD exacerbation, treated with corticosteroids, and admitted to the hospital. His inpatient treatment includes antibiotics, inhaled albuterol and ipratropium, supplemental oxygen, and oral corticosteroids.
How many days should he take oral steroids?