Strategies aimed at preventing exacerbations
| Proven efficacy |
| Smoking cessation |
| LABAs: salmeterol, formoterol |
| Tiotropium |
| Combination therapy: LABA/ICS |
| Anti-influenza vaccine |
| Antipneumococcal vaccine# |
| Rehabilitation |
| Physical exercise |
| Self-management plans |
| LVRS in selected patients |
| Questioned efficacy |
| Theophyllines |
| Prophylactic antibiotic in selected patients |
| Immunomodulators |
| Mucolytic agents |
| Antioxidants |
LABA: long-acting β2-agonist; ICS: inhaled corticosteroid; LVRS: lung volume reduction surgery. #: efficacy demonstrated in prevention of pneumonia but not in the prevention of exacerbations.