title: Correlation of frequency of exacerbations with the BODE index in COPD patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent research B. Celli et al. (N Engl J Med 2004;350:1005-12) proposed a complex grading system (which they designated by BODE) for predicting the mortality risk in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to compare the BODE index in COPD patients with frequent exacerbations and in those with infrequent exacerbations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 1-year retrospective study was performed in 76 patients with COPD of mean (Sx) age of 59.1 (8.6) years, forced expiratory volume in 1 second % predicted (FEV1%) = 35 (13)%. Exacerbations were ascertained retrospectively by patient interview and from records of treatment such as healthcare databases; the effect of frequent or infrequent exacerbations (> or < 2.3 per year) on the BODE index was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 178 exacerbations were recorded. Exacerbation frequency was correlated significantly to BODE index (r = 0.36; P = 0.002). There was a statistically significant difference in the BODE index score (5.6 +/- 2.5 vs 4.1 +/- 1.5; P = 0.002) between the frequent and infrequent exacerbators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COPD patients who experienced frequent exacerbations in a previous year have significantly higher BODE score than those who experience infrequent exacerbations.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Pulmonology, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Vladimir A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Hodgev
authors.forename: Stephan S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kostianev
authors.forename: Blagoi A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Marinov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004417:Dyspnea; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000145:classification* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index