Frequency and risk factors of COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations: a nationwide study in Greece (Greek Obstructive Lung Disease Epidemiology and health ecoNomics: GOLDEN study)
Evangelos C Alexopoulos,1 Foteini Malli,2 Eirini Mitsiki,3 Eleni G Bania,2 Christos Varounis,3 Konstantinos I Gourgoulianis1 1School of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patras, 2Respiratory Medicine Department, University of Thessaly Medical School, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2015-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of COPD |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/frequency-and-risk-factors-of-copd-exacerbations-and-hospitalizations--peer-reviewed-article-COPD |
| _version_ | 1818349907795247104 |
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| author | Alexopoulos EC Malli F Mitsiki E Bania EG Varounis C Gourgoulianis KI |
| author_facet | Alexopoulos EC Malli F Mitsiki E Bania EG Varounis C Gourgoulianis KI |
| author_sort | Alexopoulos EC |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Evangelos C Alexopoulos,1 Foteini Malli,2 Eirini Mitsiki,3 Eleni G Bania,2 Christos Varounis,3 Konstantinos I Gourgoulianis1 1School of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patras, 2Respiratory Medicine Department, University of Thessaly Medical School, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, 3Medical Department, Novartis Hellas, Athens, Greece Background: COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations have been associated with poor prognosis for the COPD patient.Objective: To evaluate the frequency and risk factors of COPD exacerbations, hospitalizations, and admissions to intensive care units (ICUs) in Greece by a nationwide cross-sectional study.Materials and methods: A nationwide observational, multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted in the clinical practice setting of respiratory medicine physicians over a 6 month-period (October 2010 to March 2011). A total of 6,125 COPD patients were recruited by 199 respiratory physicians.Results: Participants had a median age of 68.0 years, 71.3% were males, and 71.8% suffered from comorbidities. The median disease duration was 10.0 years. Of the patients, 45.3% were classified as having GOLD (Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) stage III or IV COPD. Patients with four or more comorbidities had 78.5% and threefold-higher than expected number of exacerbations and hospitalizations, respectively, as well as fivefold-higher risk of admission to the ICU compared to those with no comorbidities. Obese patients had 6.2% fewer expected exacerbations compared to those with a normal body mass index. Patients with GOLD stage IV had 74.5% and fivefold-higher expected number of exacerbations and hospitalizations, respectively, and nearly threefold-higher risk of admission to the ICU compared to stage I patients. An additional risk factor for exacerbations and hospitalizations was low compliance with treatment: 45% of patients reported forgetting to take their medication, and 81% reported a preference for a treatment with a lower dosing frequency.Conclusion: Comorbidities, disease severity, and compliance with treatment were identified as the most notable risk factors for exacerbations, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions. The results point to the need for a multifactorial approach for the COPD patient and for the development of strategies that can increase patient compliance with treatment. Keywords: COPD, exacerbations, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, risk factors |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:13:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-424ae7187aeb423fa5fa994faa5b5f4a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-2005 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:13:25Z |
| publishDate | 2015-12-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of COPD |
| spelling | doaj.art-424ae7187aeb423fa5fa994faa5b5f4a2022-12-21T23:35:54ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of COPD1178-20052015-12-012015Issue 12665267424947Frequency and risk factors of COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations: a nationwide study in Greece (Greek Obstructive Lung Disease Epidemiology and health ecoNomics: GOLDEN study)Alexopoulos ECMalli FMitsiki EBania EGVarounis CGourgoulianis KIEvangelos C Alexopoulos,1 Foteini Malli,2 Eirini Mitsiki,3 Eleni G Bania,2 Christos Varounis,3 Konstantinos I Gourgoulianis1 1School of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patras, 2Respiratory Medicine Department, University of Thessaly Medical School, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, 3Medical Department, Novartis Hellas, Athens, Greece Background: COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations have been associated with poor prognosis for the COPD patient.Objective: To evaluate the frequency and risk factors of COPD exacerbations, hospitalizations, and admissions to intensive care units (ICUs) in Greece by a nationwide cross-sectional study.Materials and methods: A nationwide observational, multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted in the clinical practice setting of respiratory medicine physicians over a 6 month-period (October 2010 to March 2011). A total of 6,125 COPD patients were recruited by 199 respiratory physicians.Results: Participants had a median age of 68.0 years, 71.3% were males, and 71.8% suffered from comorbidities. The median disease duration was 10.0 years. Of the patients, 45.3% were classified as having GOLD (Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) stage III or IV COPD. Patients with four or more comorbidities had 78.5% and threefold-higher than expected number of exacerbations and hospitalizations, respectively, as well as fivefold-higher risk of admission to the ICU compared to those with no comorbidities. Obese patients had 6.2% fewer expected exacerbations compared to those with a normal body mass index. Patients with GOLD stage IV had 74.5% and fivefold-higher expected number of exacerbations and hospitalizations, respectively, and nearly threefold-higher risk of admission to the ICU compared to stage I patients. An additional risk factor for exacerbations and hospitalizations was low compliance with treatment: 45% of patients reported forgetting to take their medication, and 81% reported a preference for a treatment with a lower dosing frequency.Conclusion: Comorbidities, disease severity, and compliance with treatment were identified as the most notable risk factors for exacerbations, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions. The results point to the need for a multifactorial approach for the COPD patient and for the development of strategies that can increase patient compliance with treatment. Keywords: COPD, exacerbations, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, risk factorshttps://www.dovepress.com/frequency-and-risk-factors-of-copd-exacerbations-and-hospitalizations--peer-reviewed-article-COPDCOPDexacerbationshospitalizationsICU admissionsrisk factors |
| spellingShingle | Alexopoulos EC Malli F Mitsiki E Bania EG Varounis C Gourgoulianis KI Frequency and risk factors of COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations: a nationwide study in Greece (Greek Obstructive Lung Disease Epidemiology and health ecoNomics: GOLDEN study) International Journal of COPD COPD exacerbations hospitalizations ICU admissions risk factors |
| title | Frequency and risk factors of COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations: a nationwide study in Greece (Greek Obstructive Lung Disease Epidemiology and health ecoNomics: GOLDEN study) |
| title_full | Frequency and risk factors of COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations: a nationwide study in Greece (Greek Obstructive Lung Disease Epidemiology and health ecoNomics: GOLDEN study) |
| title_fullStr | Frequency and risk factors of COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations: a nationwide study in Greece (Greek Obstructive Lung Disease Epidemiology and health ecoNomics: GOLDEN study) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Frequency and risk factors of COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations: a nationwide study in Greece (Greek Obstructive Lung Disease Epidemiology and health ecoNomics: GOLDEN study) |
| title_short | Frequency and risk factors of COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations: a nationwide study in Greece (Greek Obstructive Lung Disease Epidemiology and health ecoNomics: GOLDEN study) |
| title_sort | frequency and risk factors of copd exacerbations and hospitalizations a nationwide study in greece greek obstructive lung disease epidemiology and health economics golden study |
| topic | COPD exacerbations hospitalizations ICU admissions risk factors |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/frequency-and-risk-factors-of-copd-exacerbations-and-hospitalizations--peer-reviewed-article-COPD |
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