Table S1.

Definitions of COPD exacerbations in the included trials

Study, year	Moderate	Severe
Mahler et al, 200215	Requiring either oral antibiotics and/or corticosteroids	Requiring in-hospital admission for a COPD exacerbation
Calverley et al, 200316	Worsening of COPD symptoms that required treatment with antibiotics, oral corticosteroids, or both	Requiring hospitalization
Calverley et al, 200317	Requiring medical intervention (oral antibiotics and/or corticosteroids)	Requiring hospitalization
Hanania et al, 200318	Requiring treatment with antibiotics and/or corticosteroids	Requiring hospitalization
Szafranski et al, 200319	Requiring antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids	Requiring hospitalization
SFCT01 study, 200512	Requiring treatment with antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids	Requiring emergency hospital treatment and hospitalization
Calverley et al, 20075	Requiring treatment with antibiotic agents and/or systemic corticosteroids	Requiring hospitalization
Kardos et al, 200720	Requiring both a change of respiratory medication (increased dose of prescribed or addition of new drugs, ie, antibiotics, mucolytics, systemic steroids, theophylline), and medical assistance	Deterioration in COPD resulting in hospitalization or emergency room treatment
Zheng et al, 200721	Worsening of symptoms that required treatment with antibiotics or oral corticosteroids	Worsening of symptoms that required hospitalization
Ferguson et al, 200822	Requiring treatment with oral corticosteroids or antibiotics	Requiring hospitalization
Tashkin et al, 200823	Requiring treatment with oral corticosteroids	Requiring hospitalization
Anzueto et al, 200924	Requiring antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids	Requiring hospitalization
Rennard et al, 200925	Requiring an oral corticosteroid	Requiring hospitalization
Calverley et al, 201026	Need for treatment with oral corticosteroids and/or antibiotics	Need to visit or be admitted to a hospital
SUMIRE study, 201113	Requiring treatment with a course of systemic steroid	Requiring hospitalization
Sharafkhaneh et al, 201227	Requiring antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids	Requiring hospitalization
Tashkin et al, 201228	Requiring antibiotic and/or oral steroid treatment	Requiring emergency treatment or hospitalization
Zhong et al, 201229	Requiring oral/intravenous corticosteroids and/or antibiotics	Requiring emergency room treatment or hospitalization
Dransfield et al, 201314	Necessitating treatment with oral corticosteroids or antibiotics or both	Necessitating hospital admission
Kerwin et al, 201331	Requiring systemic corticosteroids and/or antibiotics	Requiring hospitalization
Martinez et al, 201330	Requiring systemic corticosteroids and/or antibiotics	Requiring hospitalization

Abbreviation: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.