Age

45–80

Sex

ALL

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

1. Patients aged between 45 and 70 years, with a diagnose of COPD according to the GOLD guidelines.
2. Patients with one episode of hospitalization for COPD exacerbation in the past year, but not more than three episodes.
3. Smoking habit history of more than 10 packages-year.
4. Patients able to correctly understand and answer the modified Borg scale.
5. Patiens with an initial degree of dyspnoea with a score of at least 5 in the modified Borg scale.
6. Patients recruited for the study during the first 48 hours of their hospitalization.
7. Patients who accept to participate in the study and sign the informed consent.

1. Patients with any contraindication for transcutaneous electrical stimulation (patiens with pacemakers, skin injury in the application area ...).
2. Patiens with any cardiovascular, neurological or psychiatric disease that may affect the perception of dyspnea.

Acupoint Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Hospitalized COPD Patients With Severe Dyspnoea