other serious disease (like lung cancer, sarcoidosis, restrictive lung disease)

exacerbation of COPD within 3 weeks before inclusion

coronary heart disease with unstable angina pectoris or myocardial infarction within 3 months of incl.

uncontrolled hypertension

cerebral infarction

neurological, muscular or skeletal disease/disorder that affect abdominal- and/or thoracal movements (kyphoscoliosis, paresis, etc)

unstable diabetes mellitus or signs of organ failure (anaemia, kidney failure, liver failure, etc)

misuse/dependency of alcohol, sedatives, neurostimulating or narcotic drugs)

obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome

using CPAP/BiPAP or home respirator

pregnancy

if PSG shows AHI \> 30, or if patient becomes acutely ill between the nights with PSG, he/she will be withdrawn from the study

Changes in Blood Gases, Disturbance of Breath During Sleep and Cardiovascular Co-morbidity in COPD Patients