title: Predicting factors contributing to length of stay in hospitalized chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients: the role of the emergency room.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common cause of hospital admission and COPD patients usually have a long stay in hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  The objective of this study was to identify factors predicting length of stay in patients with exacerbation of COPD when seen in the emergency room. We analyzed clinical and biological variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with diminished breath sounds, systolic pressure higher than 140 mmHg, diastolic pressure higher than 90 mmHg and recent previous hospitalization for exacerbation of COPD had the longest hospital stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recognition of this clinical profile in the emergency room may help to increase efforts in order to diminish length of stay in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Arquitecto Marcide, El Ferrol, Spain. jadiazperomingo@mundo-r.com
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Díaz-Peromingo
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grandes-Ibáńez
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fandińo-Orgeira
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barcala-Villamarín
authors.forename: Juan Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Garrido-Sanjuán
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies