Table 2.

Severity of hospitalized AECOPD patients

Clinical scenario	Respiratory rate (breaths/minutes)	Use of accessory respiratory muscles	Change in mental status	Supplemental oxygen given via Venturi mask able to improve hypoxemia (FiO2%)	PCO2	pH
No respiratory failure	20–30	No	No	28–35	Normal	Normal
Acute respiratory failure (non-life-threatening)	>  30	Yes	No	35–40	Increased (50–60 mmHg)	Normal
Acute respiratory failure (life-threatening)	>  30	Yes	Yes	>  40 or not improved	Increased (>  60 mmHg)	≤ 7.25

Modified from references [1, 13]

Abbreviations: FiO₂ indicates fraction of inspired oxygen, PaCO₂, partial arterial carbon dioxide pressure