Priority 1 from the COPD Exacerbation PSP

UNCERTAINTY: What can prevent exacerbations of COPD?  (JLA PSP Priority 1)
Overall ranking 1
JLA question ID 0104/1
Explanatory note Exacerbations of COPD cause a significant burden of ill health to people living with COPD, and burden on health services.  Preventing exacerbations is therefore a key aim of treatment.  Current options to prevent exacerbations are not completely effective, even when optimally used, and there is real need to identify new ways to better prevent exacerbations. 
Evidence

This question has been partially addressed in the evidence base.https://www.nice.org.uk
Health Research Classification System category  Respiratory
Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples

What can I do to prevent flare ups ~ how can i prevent a flare up ~ How can I minimise their frequency and/or duration? How can I optimise my recovery from them? ~ How to prevent COPD flare ups ~ What are key tips to keep exacerbations from happening? ~ Does prevention definitely get harder to do as the disease progresses? ~ How best to stay safe and free of exacerbation ~ What is the evidence for non- pharmacological interventions in the prevention of exacerbation ~ What simple and practical everyday measure could a COPD patient take to prevent exacerbations ~ What can I do to stop these flare ups
Submitted by Patients, Healthcare professionals
PSP information
PSP unique ID 0104
PSP name COPD Exacerbation PSP
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP. 51 (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop 1 April 2021