Clinical Medicine Research

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Risk Factors for Frequent Hospital Readmissions for Acute Exacerbations of COPD

Received: 24 November 2013    Accepted:     Published: 20 December 2013
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Abstract

Background: Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) are known to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality and have a significant socioeconomic impact. The factors that determine frequent hospital readmissions for AECOPD are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to EVALUATE the factors responsible for the repeated admissions for AECOPD. Methodology: We conducted a prospective study of 235 patients with COPD with one or more admissions for acute exacerbations in a tertiary care hospital. Frequency of previous readmissions for AECOPD in the past year, and clinical characteristics, including spirometry were ascertained in the stable state both before discharge and at 6-month post discharge. All the patients were followed up for a period of two years after discharge to evaluate the readmissions for the acute exacerbations. Results: Among 149 COPD patients who were admitted and assessed for AECOPD, there were 278 readmissions for AECOPD over a follow-up period of 24 months. Of these, 27% had one readmission, while rest 78% had two or more readmissions during this period. There was a high prevalence of current or ex-heavy smokers, associated co-morbidity, underweight patients and low prevalence of vaccination and use of domiciliary oxygen therapy among COPD patients. A total of 15.4% mortality was observed in the present study. The multivariate logistic regression analysis for repeated admissions revealed that disease duration >10 years (OR =0.50; 95% CI: 0.27 -0.93), non-use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS +LABA) (OR = 2.31; 95% CI: 2.26–4.88), lower serum albumin level (<2gm/dl) (OR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.26–0.88), MRC dyspnea grade > 3 (OR = 1.15; 95% CI: 2.56–4.89), body mass index (BMI) <20 (OR =0.62, 95% CI: 0.31-1.23) and non-use of Tiotropium (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.67-2.19) were independently associated with frequent readmissions for AECOPD. Conclusion: The repeated exacerbations in COPD were common with major burden to the society. The major factors influencing frequency of repeated COPD exacerbations were disease duration, non-prescription of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS +LABA) and Tiotropium, lower serum albumin level (<2gm/dl), lower BMI and MRC dyspnea grade > 3.

DOI 10.11648/j.cmr.20130206.20
Published in Clinical Medicine Research (Volume 2, Issue 6, November 2013)
Page(s) 167-173
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

COPD, Acute Exacerbation, AECOPD, Repeated Exacerbation, Hospitalization

References
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Author Information
  • Department of Pulmonary Medicine, KLE University’s Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, INDIA

  • Department of Pulmonary Medicine, KLE University’s Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, INDIA

  • Department of Pulmonary Medicine, KLE University’s Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, INDIA

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  • APA Style

    Gaude Gajanan, Hattiholi Jyothi, Chaudhury Alisha. (2013). Risk Factors for Frequent Hospital Readmissions for Acute Exacerbations of COPD. Clinical Medicine Research, 2(6), 167-173. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cmr.20130206.20

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    ACS Style

    Gaude Gajanan; Hattiholi Jyothi; Chaudhury Alisha. Risk Factors for Frequent Hospital Readmissions for Acute Exacerbations of COPD. Clin. Med. Res. 2013, 2(6), 167-173. doi: 10.11648/j.cmr.20130206.20

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    AMA Style

    Gaude Gajanan, Hattiholi Jyothi, Chaudhury Alisha. Risk Factors for Frequent Hospital Readmissions for Acute Exacerbations of COPD. Clin Med Res. 2013;2(6):167-173. doi: 10.11648/j.cmr.20130206.20

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  • @article{10.11648/j.cmr.20130206.20,
      author = {Gaude Gajanan and Hattiholi Jyothi and Chaudhury Alisha},
      title = {Risk Factors for Frequent Hospital Readmissions for Acute Exacerbations of COPD},
      journal = {Clinical Medicine Research},
      volume = {2},
      number = {6},
      pages = {167-173},
      doi = {10.11648/j.cmr.20130206.20},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cmr.20130206.20},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cmr.20130206.20},
      abstract = {Background: Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) are known to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality and have a significant socioeconomic impact. The factors that determine frequent hospital readmissions for AECOPD are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to EVALUATE the factors responsible for the repeated admissions for AECOPD. Methodology: We conducted a prospective study of 235 patients with COPD with one or more admissions for acute exacerbations in a tertiary care hospital. Frequency of previous readmissions for AECOPD in the past year, and clinical characteristics, including spirometry were ascertained in the stable state both before discharge and at 6-month post discharge. All the patients were followed up for a period of two years after discharge to evaluate the readmissions for the acute exacerbations. Results: Among 149 COPD patients who were admitted and assessed for AECOPD, there were 278 readmissions for AECOPD over a follow-up period of 24 months. Of these, 27% had one readmission, while rest 78% had two or more readmissions during this period. There was a high prevalence of current or ex-heavy smokers, associated co-morbidity, underweight patients and low prevalence of vaccination and use of domiciliary oxygen therapy among COPD patients. A total of 15.4% mortality was observed in the present study. The multivariate logistic regression analysis for repeated admissions revealed that disease duration >10 years (OR =0.50; 95% CI: 0.27 -0.93), non-use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS +LABA) (OR = 2.31; 95% CI: 2.26–4.88), lower serum albumin level ( 3 (OR = 1.15; 95% CI: 2.56–4.89), body mass index (BMI)  3.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Risk Factors for Frequent Hospital Readmissions for Acute Exacerbations of COPD
    AU  - Gaude Gajanan
    AU  - Hattiholi Jyothi
    AU  - Chaudhury Alisha
    Y1  - 2013/12/20
    PY  - 2013
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cmr.20130206.20
    DO  - 10.11648/j.cmr.20130206.20
    T2  - Clinical Medicine Research
    JF  - Clinical Medicine Research
    JO  - Clinical Medicine Research
    SP  - 167
    EP  - 173
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2326-9057
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cmr.20130206.20
    AB  - Background: Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) are known to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality and have a significant socioeconomic impact. The factors that determine frequent hospital readmissions for AECOPD are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to EVALUATE the factors responsible for the repeated admissions for AECOPD. Methodology: We conducted a prospective study of 235 patients with COPD with one or more admissions for acute exacerbations in a tertiary care hospital. Frequency of previous readmissions for AECOPD in the past year, and clinical characteristics, including spirometry were ascertained in the stable state both before discharge and at 6-month post discharge. All the patients were followed up for a period of two years after discharge to evaluate the readmissions for the acute exacerbations. Results: Among 149 COPD patients who were admitted and assessed for AECOPD, there were 278 readmissions for AECOPD over a follow-up period of 24 months. Of these, 27% had one readmission, while rest 78% had two or more readmissions during this period. There was a high prevalence of current or ex-heavy smokers, associated co-morbidity, underweight patients and low prevalence of vaccination and use of domiciliary oxygen therapy among COPD patients. A total of 15.4% mortality was observed in the present study. The multivariate logistic regression analysis for repeated admissions revealed that disease duration >10 years (OR =0.50; 95% CI: 0.27 -0.93), non-use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS +LABA) (OR = 2.31; 95% CI: 2.26–4.88), lower serum albumin level ( 3 (OR = 1.15; 95% CI: 2.56–4.89), body mass index (BMI)  3.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 6
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