Antibiotics are associated with lower relapse rates in outpatients with acute exacerbations of COPD.
BACKGROUND
COPD is a complex disease with exacerbations characterized by worsening of symptoms resulting in deteriorating lung function.


OBJECTIVE
To assess predictive factors of relapse for patients with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECB).


METHODS
Retrospective cohort analysis of visits for AECB.


METHODS
Veterans Affairs Medical Center.


METHODS
Three hundred sixty-two visits (173 patients) with documented COPD treated as outpatients for AECB.


METHODS
Severity of underlying COPD, severity of AECB, comorbid conditions, therapy, and relapse rates (return visit within 14 days with persistent or worsening symptoms).


RESULTS
Each visit was analyzed individually (referred to as a patient-visit). One group received antibiotics (270 patient-visits), and the second group (92 patient-visits) did not. Both groups had similar demographics and severity of underlying COPD. The overall relapse rate was 22%. The majority of patient-visits (95%) with severe symptoms at presentation were prescribed antibiotics vs only 40% of those with mild symptoms. Twenty-nine of 92 patient-visits (32%) were followed by relapse in the group that was not given antibiotics, whereas only 50 of 270 (19%) treated with antibiotics relapsed (p < 0.001). Those treated with amoxicillin had an even higher relapse rate (20 of 37 patient-visits, or 54%) than those who did not receive antibiotics (p = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
Relapse from AECB was not related to the severity of underlying disease or to the severity of the acute exacerbation. Patients treated with antibiotics had significantly lower relapse rates than those who did not receive antibiotics. However, the specific choice of antibiotic is important because those treated with amoxicillin had the highest relapse rates of all groups.
Adams
S G
SG
Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Diseases/Critical Care Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 78284, USA.
Melo
J
J
Luther
M
M
Anzueto
A
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents