CLINICAL PATHWAY INTERVENTIONS AND THEIR ROLE IN REDUCING ACUTE COPD EXACERBATION MORBIDITY

Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a leading cause of hospital admissions worldwide and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly among patients requiring ventilatory support. AECOPD represents a critical event in the natural history of COPD, with the potential to severely and permanently impair patients’ health-related quality of life. Globally, an estimated 210 million individuals are affected by COPD, with prevalence and burden continuing to rise. The implementation of structured clinical pathway interventions has been proposed as a strategy to standardize care, optimize treatment, and improve patient outcomes during acute exacerbations. This review examines the current evidence on clinical pathway interventions for AECOPD, highlighting their impact on hospital length of stay, readmission rates, mortality, and overall quality of care. Findings indicate that well-designed clinical pathways can streamline management, enhance adherence to evidence-based guidelines, and reduce variability in care delivery. Moreover, such interventions may contribute to better symptom control, faster recovery, and improved patient satisfaction. Despite these benefits, challenges remain in pathway implementation, including resource limitations, staff training requirements, and individual patient variability. Future research should focus on refining pathway protocols, integrating multidisciplinary approaches, and evaluating long-term outcomes in diverse healthcare settings. The adoption of clinical pathways in the management of AECOPD has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes while optimizing healthcare resource utilization