Factors associated with hospital admission in patients reaching the emergency department with COPD exacerbation

Maria Teresa García-Sanz; Carlos Pol-Balado; Concepción Abellás; Juan Carlos Cánive-Gómez; Diana Antón-Sanmartin; Francisco J. González-Barcala

doi:10.4081/mrm.2012.593

Factors associated with hospital admission in patients reaching the emergency department with COPD exacerbation

Authors

Maria Teresa García-Sanz Emergency Department, Salnés County Hospital, Ande-Rubiáns s/n, Vilagarcía de Arousa, Pontevedra
Carlos Pol-Balado Emergency Department, Salnés County Hospital, Ande-Rubiáns s/n, Vilagarcía de Arousa, Pontevedra
Concepción Abellás Emergency Department, Salnés County Hospital, Ande-Rubiáns s/n, Vilagarcía de Arousa, Pontevedra
Juan Carlos Cánive-Gómez Family and Community Medicine, Hospital Complex of Pontevedra, Pontevedra
Diana Antón-Sanmartin Family and Community Medicine, Hospital Complex of Pontevedra, Pontevedra
Francisco J. González-Barcala Pneumology Service, Hospital Complex of Pontevedra, Pontevedra

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/mrm.2012.593

Keywords:

Admission, COPD, Emergency Department, Exacerbation

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of COPD exacerbations in our Emergency Department, as well as the hospitalization-related factors. Methods: Prospective observational study conducted in the Emergency Department of Salnés County Hospital among patients admitted for COPD exacerbation. Admission predictors were determined by multivariate analysis. Results: There were 409 exacerbations in 239 patients (79% male, mean age 75). 57% of exacerbations required hospitalization. Hospitalization-related factors were impaired oxygenation (p<0.001), presence of neutrophilia (p<0.01) and prescription of antibiotics in the Emergency Department (p<0.05). Conclusions: COPD exacerbation accounts for over 1% of all visits to our Emergency Department. 57% of them required hospitalization. Impaired oxygenation, greater neutrophilia and prescription of antibiotics in the Emergency Department were associated with greater probability of admission.