Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has become the technique of choice for assisting COPD patients in severe exacerbation. However, the success of NIV in these patients remains relatively uncertain, and the factors predicting success are not known. A total of 35 patients were enrolled in this study. The mean age of our patients was 61 10 years, with a male predominance. Predictive factors for transfer to intensive care were: cyanosis, heart rate above...