Table 1.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria (applied at admission) and randomisation criteria (applied at day 3 of admission)

Inclusion criteria (checked on day 1)	Exclusion criteria (checked on day 1)
Age ≥40 years	Major uncontrolled co morbidity, including pneumonia that is prominent, heart failure that is prominent or acute changes on ECG and (suspected) underlying malignancy
Competent to give informed consent	Mental disability, including dementia, impaired level of consciousness and acute confusion
Diagnosed with COPD. COPD was defined as at least GOLD stage I and 10 pack years of smoking	Living outside care region of the home care organisation
Hospitalisation for COPD exacerbation	Inability to understand the programme
	Indication for admission to intensive care unit or for non-invasive ventilation
	Active alcohol and/or drug abuse
	Insufficient availability of informal care at home
Randomisation criteria (checked on day 3)
Completed Informed Consent on day three of admission
Acceptable general health:
▪ Decrease physical complaints
▪ Non-dependency of therapies that cannot be given at home (intravenous therapy and newly prescribed oxygen supply)
▪ Being able to visit toilet independently
Normal or moderately increased blood sugar levels, defined as ≤15 or ≥15 mmol/l but patient is capable to regulate blood sugar levels independently
Respiratory complaints of dyspnoea, wheezing and rhonchi must have decreased in comparison with day of admission

COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.