title: Hospital re-admission in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: A retrospective study was carried out in a Hong Kong regional hospital with 24-h emergency service, to study the factors associated with shorter time to re-admission after acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). From 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1997, the first admission (index admission) of each patient through the emergency room with COPD/chronic bronchitis/emphysema was included. A total of 551 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The total acute and rehabilitative length of stay (mean +/- SD) was 9.41+/-11.67 days. Within 1 year after discharge, 327 patients (59 35%) were re-admitted at least once. Median time to first re-admission after discharge was 240 days. By Cox regression analysis, the following factors were independently associated with shorter time to re-admission: hospital admission within 1 year before index admission, total length of stay in index admission > 5 days, nursing home residency, dependency in self-care activities, right heart strain pattern on electrocardiogram, on high dose inhaled corticosteroid and actual bicarbonate level > 25 mmol l(-1). These factors may be relevant in the future planning of healthcare utilization for COPD patients.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory and Critical Care Team, Department of Medicine, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong SAR, PR China. drcwlau@dnamail.com
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Yam
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poon
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids