Prehospital Non-invasive Ventilation for Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The goal of this clinical trial is to test if treatment with prehospital Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF), due to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) based on in-hospital criteria, should be used in the prehospital setting. This is performed with the introduction of prehospital arterial blood gas analyzation. The primary objective is: • To determine if early prehospital applied NIV together with standard medical treatment will affect arterial pH at hospital arrival in patients with ARF due to AECOPD. Participants in the intervention will receive Non-invasive ventilation together with standard medical treatment. The intervention will be compared to standard medical treatment alone, that may include inhaled bronchodilators, intravenous corticosteroids, and titrated oxygen supplementation.