Resource use study in COPD (RUSIC): a prospective study to quantify the effects of COPD exacerbations on health care resource use among COPD patients.

Background: There is increasing interest in health care resource use (HRU) in Canada, particularly in resources associated with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Objective: To identify HRU due to exacerbations of COPD.

Methods: A 52-week, multicentre, prospective, observational study of HRU due to exacerbations in patients with moderate to severe COPD was performed.