Table 1

Characteristics of individual studies included in systematic review of discharge care bundles administered to patients with AECOPD

Study; country; design	Intervention, comparison groups (n)	Outcomes and results	Significant result	Overall risk of bias
Abad-Corpa et al;24 Spain; CCT	COPD discharge planning with care bundle (n=56), usual care (n=87)	Hospital re-admissions (%); f/u: NR Bundle: 43%; usual care: 47%; NS Mortality (%); f/u: NR Bundle: 13%; usual care: 20%; NS QoL: SGRQ (mean, SD); f/u: 3 mo, 6 mo Bundle (3 mo): 46.5±22.7; (6 mo): 6 mo: 46.7±23.3 Usual care: (3 mo): 46.7±21.9; (6 mo): 44.2±22.6; p=0.02*	Yes	High
Casas et al;25 Spain, Belgium; RCT	COPD discharge bundle within integrated care plan (n=65), usual care (n=90)	Hospital re-admissions (%); f/u: 1 yr Bundle: 23%; usual care: 29%; p=0.028* Mortality (%); 1 yr Bundle: 19%; usual care: 14%; p=0.67 Physician visits: (rate per patient/yr); 1 yr Bundle: 18.4%; usual care: 16.6%; p=0.45	Yes	Moderate
Jennings et al;29 USA; RCT	COPD discharge bundle (n=93), usual care (n=79)	Hospital re-admissions (%); f/u: 30 d Bundle: 19.3%; usual care: 22.7%; p=0.58	No	Moderate
Lainscak et al;30 Slovenia; RCT	COPD discharge care bundle (n=118), usual care (n=135)	Hospital re-admissions (%); f/u: 6 mo Bundle: 31%; usual care: 44%; p=0.033* Mortality (%); 6 mo Bundle: 9.3%; usual care: 9.6%; p=0.93 QoL: SGRQ (mean, SD); 6 mo Bundle: 55.4 (18.8) Usual care: 53.8 (18.6); p=0.33	Yes	Moderate
Linden and Butterworth;32 USA; RCT	Components of transitional care model at discharge (n=124), usual care (n=131)	Hospital re-admissions (rate per person/time); f/u: 30 d, 90 d Bundle (30 d): 0.218; usual care (30 d): 0.198; p=0.75 Bundle (90 d): 0.50; usual care (90 d): 0.55; p=0.613 ED returns (rate per person/time); 30 d, 90 d Bundle (30 d): 0.129; usual care (30 d): 0.16; p=0.556 Bundle (90 d): 0.29; usual care (90 d): 0.26; p=0.761 Mortality (%); 90 d Bundle: 3.2%; usual care: 11.5%; p=0.01*	Yes	Moderate
Graham;26 UK; ITS	COPD discharge care planning period (n=nr), no bundle period (previous year) (n=nr)	Hospital re-admissions (%); f/u: nr Bundle: 12.8%; no bundle: 14.9%; p=nr; per cent change: −14.10% Mortality (%); f/u: 1 yr Bundle: 6.19%; no bundle: 4.38%; p=nr	Unclear	High
Laverty et al;31 UK; ITS	COPD discharge bundle (n=nr), no bundle period (previous year) (n=nr)	Hospital re-admissions (mean annual, SD); f/u: 28, 90 d Bundle (28 d): −5.3%; no bundle (28 d): 2.1%; p=0.01 Bundle (90 d): −1.3%; no bundle (28 d): 1.4%; p=0.26	Yes	High
Halpin et al;27 UK; BA	COPD discharge care planning period (n=67), no bundle period (n=257)	Hospital re-admissions (%); f/u: 30 d Bundle: 18%; no bundle: 27%; p=nr; per cent change: −33%	Unclear	High
Hopkinson et al;28 UK; BA	COPD discharge bundle (n=94), no bundle period (n=365)	Hospital re-admissions (%); f/u: 30 d Bundle: 10.8%; no bundle: 16.4%; p=nr; per cent change: −34.1%	Unclear	High
Mann et al;33 UK; BA	COPD discharge bundle (n=nr), no bundle period (n=nr)	Hospital re-admissions (%); f/u: 28 d Bundle: 18%; no bundle: 25%; p=0.06; per cent change: −28%	No	High
Matthews et al;34 UK; BA	COPD discharge bundle (n=nr), no bundle period (n=nr)	Hospital re-admissions (%); f/u: 30 d Bundle: 17.7%; no bundle: 23.2%; p=nr; per cent change: −23.4%	Unclear	High
Seymour et al;35 UK; BA	COPD discharge care planning period (n=103), no bundle period (n=53)	Hospital re-admissions (%); f/u: 30 d, 3 mo Bundle (30 d): 17.5%; no bundle: 34%; p=0.02; per cent change: −48.5% Bundle (3 mo): 36.9%; no bundle: 52.8%; p=0.06; per cent change: −30.1%	Yes	High
Shorofsky et al;36 Canada; BA	COPD discharge bundle (n=210), no bundle period (n=nr)	Hospital re-admissions (%); f/u: 90 d, 1 yr Bundle (90 d): 18.6%; no bundle: 32.2%; p=0.017; per cent change: 90 d: −42.4% Bundle (1 yr): 30.5%; no bundle: 61.9%; p=0.038; per cent change: 1 yr: −50.7%	Yes	High
Yip et al;37 USA; BA	COPD discharge care planning period (n=nr), no bundle period (n=nr)	Hospital re-admissions (%); f/u: 30 d Bundle: 21.5%; no bundle: 22.9%; p=0.1; per cent change: −6.11%	No	High

*Statistically significant difference.
AECOPD, an exacerbation of COPD; BA, before-and-after study; CCT, controlled clinical trial; d, day(s); ED, emergency department; f/u, follow-up; ITS, interrupted time series; mo, month(s); NR, not reported; NS, not significant; QoL, quality of life; RCT, randomised controlled trial; SGRQ, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire; yr, year(s).