Acute exacerbations of COPD: risk factors for failure and relapse

Abstract

Acute exacerbations are a leading cause of worsening COPD in terms of lung function decline, quality of life, and survival. They also have a relevant economic burden on the health care system. Determining the risk factors for acute exacerbation and early relapse could be a crucial element for a better management of COPD patients. This review analyzes the current knowledge and underlines the main risk factors for recurrent acute exacerbations. Comprehensive evaluation of COPD patients during stable phase and exacerbation could contribute to prevent treatment failure and relapses.

Keywords:

• infections
• prevention
• treatment
• COPD
• exacerbations

Disclosure

MM reports travel grant and congress participation from Boehringer Ingelheim, Menarini, Vivisol and Astra Zeneca and personal fees from Guidotti-Malesci and Grifols. PR has participated as a lecturer, speaker and advisor in scientific meetings and courses under the sponsorship of Almirall, AstraZeneca, Biofutura, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi Farmaceutici, GlaxoSmithKline, Menarini Group, Mundipharma and Novartis. The Department of Systems Medicine of the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” was funded by Almirall, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis and Zambon to conduct research in the respiratory field. EP reports fees and consultancies from Bayer, consultancies for Insmed, Grigols and Polyphor and fees from Menarini, Zambon and Pfizer. AG reports research grant from Boehringer, travel grant and congress participation from Menarini and advisory board participation from Vertex. MC has participated as a lecturer, speaker and advisor in scientific meetings and courses under the sponsorship of Almirall, AstraZeneca, Biofutura, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi Farmaceutici, GlaxoSmith Kline, Menarini Group, Lallemand, Mundipharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Verona Pharma and Zambon and is or has been a consultant to Chiesi Farmaceutici, Lallemand, Novartis, Verona Pharma and Zambon. FB reports personal fees from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Chiesi, Dompé, GSK, Guidotti, Grifols, Menarini, Novartis, Pfizer and Zambon and grants from Bayer, Chiesi, Guidotti, Menarini, Pfizer, Teva and Zambon. MDP, EC and MG report no conflicts of interest in this work.