Age and sex variations in hospital readmissions for COPD associated with overall and cardiac comorbidity.
OBJECTIVE
To determine sex and age variations in hospital readmissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with overall and cardiac comorbid conditions.


METHODS
A one-year follow-up study was conducted for 108 726 COPD in-patients aged >or=40 years who were discharged alive after their first admission in the 1999-2000 fiscal year.


RESULTS
Within a year, 38 955 of the patients were readmitted to hospital for COPD. The incidence rate of COPD readmission was 49.1% per year. It was higher for men than women aged >or=70 years, but was almost the same for patients aged <70 years. The length of hospital stay and the Charlson Index at baseline moderately predicted 1-year COPD readmission in younger age groups and in female patients. Congestive heart failure at baseline was associated with a 20% increase in incidence that was age-related. Pulmonary heart disease was less common but was a significant predictor in almost all age and sex groups. Ischemic heart disease and arrhythmia were moderate predictors, and were only significant in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Women aged <70 years had rates of COPD readmission similar to those of men. Cardiac events were strongly associated with COPD readmissions, which were modified by sex and age.
Chen
Y
Y
Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. ychen@uottawa.ca
Li
Q
Q
Johansen
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011660:Pulmonary Heart Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries