Impact of COPD exacerbations on patient-centered outcomes.
BACKGROUND
Frequent exacerbations are associated with a faster decline in FEV(1), impaired health status, and worse survival. Their impact and temporal relationship with other outcomes such as functional status, dyspnea, and the multidimensional body mass index, obstruction, dyspnea, exercise capacity (BODE) index remain unknown.


OBJECTIVE
We reasoned that exacerbations affect the BODE index and its components, and that changes in the BODE index could be used to monitor the effect of exacerbations on the host.


METHODS
Prospective observational study in a Veterans Affairs medical center.


METHODS
We studied 205 patients with COPD (mean [+/- SD] FEV(1), 43 +/- 15% predicted), and recorded the body mass index, FEV(1) percent predicted, modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale, 6-min walk distance, and the BODE index at baseline, during the exacerbation, and at 6, 12, and 24 months following the first episode, and documented all exacerbations for 2 years after the first acute exacerbation.


RESULTS
From the cohort, 130 patients (63%) experienced 352 exacerbations or (0.85 exacerbations per patient per year); 48 patients (23%), experienced one episode, 82 patients (40%) experienced 2 or more exacerbations, and 50 patients required hospitalization. At study entry, exacerbators had a worse mean baseline BODE index score (4.2 +/- 2.1 vs 3.57 +/- 2.3, respectively; p < 0.03). The BODE index score worsened by 1.38 points during the exacerbation, and remained 0.8 and 1.1 points above baseline at 1 and 2 years, respectively. There was little change in BODE index score at 2 years in nonexacerbators.


CONCLUSIONS
COPD exacerbations negatively impact on the BODE index and its components. The BODE index is a sensitive tool used to assess the impact of exacerbations and to monitor COPD disease progression.
Cote
Claudia G
CG
Respiratory Disease Section, Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Bay Pines, FL. Electronic address: Claudia.cote@med.va.gov.
Dordelly
Luis J
LJ
Research and Development, Bay Pines Foundation, Bay Pines, FL.
Celli
Bartolomé R
BR
COPD Center, Caritas-St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Boston, MA.
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000368:Aged; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D015996:Survival Rate