Shifting the focus of ICU staffing research to the community.

journal.publications.chestnet.org polluted urban areas as opposed to nonindustrialized farming areas exist. The subjects in this observational study were not subjected to treatment as a result of the study fi ndings. In addition, there is now evidence that neither bronchodilator nor steroid treatment signifi cantly infl uences the decline of lung function over time. 2 , 3 Our study included mostly heavy smokers with an FEV 1 /FVC . 70% and with mild COPD. It has been shown that the number of exacerbations is low in GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) stage II, and so it is not surprising that in our cohort the probability of prior exacerbations is even lower. 4 An exacerbation effect on FEV 1 decline is, therefore, minute and undetectable.