Hospitalizations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations and their impact on disease and subsequent morbidity and mortality

Abstract

Evaluation of: Suissa S, Dell’Aniello S, Ernst P. Long-term natural history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: severe exacerbations and mortality. Thorax 67(11), 957–963 (2012).

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), progressive airflow limitation is a risk factor for development of disease exacerbations, which, when severe, may require hospitalization. In the discussed study, a large cohort of patients hospitalized for their first COPD exacerbation were analyzed in terms of subsequent hospitalizations and mortality risk. COPD hospitalizations were found to be a risk factor for subsequent COPD-related hospitalizations, to increase their incidence and to increase the disease-related mortality risk. Male gender was also identified as a risk factor for a higher COPD-related morbidity and mortality. Hospitalizations for COPD exacerbation should be considered as additional criterion for disease severity in tailoring the disease management.

Keywords::

• comorbidities
• COPD
• exacerbation
• hospitalization for COPD exacerbation
• male
• mortality
• risk

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.