The COPD Patient Management European Trial (COMET)

The goal of the study is to evaluate a Home-Based Disease Management program specifically developed for patients with Gold III/IV COPD. By improving disease knowledge, awareness of significant clinical deterioration and self-management skills for patients, this Home-Based COPD Management Program is expected to reduce the severity of exacerbations, the need for emergency hospitalisations, thus demonstrating the efficacy and the cost effectiveness of this intervention.

Primary objective: To evaluate a strategy of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) management to reduce the number of hospital days in patients with severe Gold III/IV COPD: a Home-Based COPD Management Program versus usual patient education and follow-up. Secondary objectives: * To assess the clinical outcome and the health-related quality of life, * To assess safety, * To evaluate medico-economic impact.