Table 4. Guidelines statements used for benchmarking non-pharmacological therapeutic options.

Guideline	Statement
Tobacco
GOLD 2013	Health care providers are important for the delivery of smoking cessation messages and interventions and should encourage all patients who smoke to quit
GesEPOC 2012	It is recommended to offer all smokers with COPD advice to quit supported by medical/psychological counseling
Vaccinations
GOLD 2013	Influenza vaccination can reduce serious morbidity (such as lower respiratory tract infections requiring hospitalization) and mortality in COPD patients
SEPAR 2009	Influenza vaccination should be recommended to all COPD patients
GOLD 2013	Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is recommended for COPD patients aged 65 years and older, as well as in younger patients with significant comorbidities (e.g., cardiac diseases)
SEPAR 2009	Pneumococcal vaccination should be offered to patients with severe COPD and to all COPD patients aged 65 years and older
GesEPOC 2012	All patients with COPD should be vaccinated annually against influenza and should receive pneumococcal vaccine
Exercise
GOLD 2013	All patients who get short of breath when walking on their own pace on level ground should be offered rehabilitation
GOLD 2013	Physical activity is recommended for all patients with COPD
SEPAR 2009	Regular exercise should be recommended to all COPD patients
SEPAR 2009	Pulmonary rehabilitation should be prescribed for all COPD patients who continue to experience limitations in activities of daily living because of dyspnea after stage-appropriate pharmacological treatment
GesEPOC 2012	Regular physical activity should be advised to all patients with COPD
Long-term oxygen therapy
GOLD 2013	Long-term oxygen therapy is indicated for patients with the following characteristics: PaO2 ≤ 7.3 kPa (55 mmHg) or SaO2 ≤ 88%, with or without hypercapnia confirmed twice over a 3-week period (evidence B); or PaO2 between 7.3 kPa (55 mmHg) and 8.0 kPa (60 mmHg); or SaO2 >88% in presence of pulmonary hypertension, peripheral edema suggesting congestive cardiac failure, or polycythemia (hematocrit > 55%)
GesEPOC 2012	Long-term oxygen therapy is indicated for patients with stable COPD patients at rest at sea level, breathing air with the following characteristics: PaO2 <55 mmHg or PaO2 between 55 and 60 mmHg in presence of conditions that may increase the risk of hypoxemia, including hypertension pulmonary/cor pulmonale, congestive heart failure/arrhythmias, or hematocrit >55%.

GOLD 2013: Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease 2013 [19].

SEPAR 2009: SEPAR Health-Care Quality Standards 2009 [21].

GesEPOC 2012: Spanish National Guidelines for COPD [22].