Introduction: The aim of this study was to describe the prognosis after hospitalization after exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Material and methods: A retrospective study of 300 consecutively admitted patients with exacerbation of COPD in three departments of internal medicine with special interest in respiratory medicine. Data were collected from patient charts.
Results: The mean age was 71.3 years. 59.7% were women and 60.9% had cor pulmonale. In 44% of the patients hypoxia was documented at the time of admission. Twentysix(9%) patients died during hospitalization. After three and 12 months mortality was 19% and 36%, respectively. Age, cor pulmonale and hypoxia at the time of admission were associated with increased mortality, whereas impaired lung function, long term oxygen treatment, and a record of hospitalization with the same diagnosis in the previous 30 days were associated with increased mortality in univariate analysis, but not when adjusted for age, gender, and hypoxia at admission. The risk of readmission was increased in cor pulmonale, while cessation of smoking during hospitalization reduced this risk.
Discussion: Patients who have been hospitalized with exacerbation of COPD has a high mortality and a high risk of readmission.