title: National audit of supported discharge programmes for management of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2008.
abstract: The 2008 U.K. national chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) audit examined the use of supported discharge programmes (SDPs) in clinical practice against British Thoracic Society guidelines. 98% of acute U.K. trusts participated. SDPs were available in 142 of 239 (59%) units. 1630 of 8971 (18%) patients with COPD were treated within SDPs. Median (IQR) stay in hospital for patients within SDPs and those not accepted for SDPs was 3 (1-6) days and 6 (3-11) days (p<0.001), and mortality within 90 days of admission was 4.3% and 6.7%, respectively. SDPs within the U.K. are safe and effective and reduce length of hospital stay without adverse effects on mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Castle Hill Hospital, University of Hull and Hull York Medical School, Cottingham, East Yorkshire HU16 5JQ, UK. jack.kastelik@hull.ac.uk
authors.forename: Jack A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kastelik
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Rhona J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Buckingham
authors.forename: C Michael
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D010351:Patient Discharge; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology