Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease characterized by persistent airflow obstruction and chronic respiratory symptoms or alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency in response to inhaled cigarette smoke or other irritants. The excessive morbidity and mortality associated with COPD acute exacerbations represent a significant public health problem that places a high burden on patients, their families and society. In frequent and severe exacerbations, patients may experience a decrease in quality of life, depression, and even death up to one year after hospitalization. Costs associated with COPD are more than $15.5 billion, and hospitalizations and repeated hospital admissions related to acute exacerbations alone account for 70% of all costs. For these reasons, efforts to reduce hospital admissions and hospitalizations associated with recurrent exacerbations are imperative to improve patient's quality of life and reduce the societal burden.