Figure 5.

Algorithm reflecting the clinical features of a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presenting with increased respiratory symptoms and when potential pneumonia is considered. Recommendations are on the basis of European guidelines (Woodhead and colleagues [43]), consensus documents, and/or relevant original studies quoted in the text. COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CRP = C-reactive protein; CT = computed tomography; ECOPD = exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GDMT = guideline-directed medical treatment.