title: [Factors predicting a short length of stay for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We intended to identify the factors predicting a short length of stay in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute exacerbations in order to select those who are tributary to be admitted in a short stay unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Several clinical and biochemical characteristics were compared in a group of patients with COPD admitted in a short stay unit during an acute exacerbation, classified as lasting 4 days or > 4 days of hospital stay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A comorbidity index of 2 [1-2] vs 3 [2-3.5], a number of breaths per minute of 29.0 (6.5) vs 33.6 (6.8) and a pCO2 value on admission of 39.1 (5.3) vs 50.7 (12.0) mmHg were factors independently associated with a shorter stay (p < 0.001 in all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some clinical characteristics of COPD patients are predictive of a short length of stay during acute exacerbations.
authors.affiliation: Servei de Medicina Interna, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. villalta@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Villalta
authors.forename: Ethel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sequeira
authors.forename: Anna-Clara
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cereijo
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sisó
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de la Sierra
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018570:Risk Assessment