title: Factors associated with hospital admission in patients reaching the emergency department with COPD exacerbation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of COPD exacerbations in our Emergency Department, as well as the hospitalization-related factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study conducted in the Emergency Department of Salnés County Hospital among patients admitted for COPD exacerbation. Admission predictors were determined by multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 409 exacerbations in 239 patients (79% male, mean age 75). 57% of exacerbations required hospitalization. Hospitalization-related factors were impaired oxygenation (p < 0.001), presence of neutrophilia (p < 0.01) and prescription of antibiotics in the Emergency Department (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COPD exacerbation accounts for over 1% of all visits to our Emergency Department. 57% of them required hospitalization. Impaired oxygenation, greater neutrophilia and prescription of antibiotics in the Emergency Department were associated with greater probability of admission.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Salnés County Hospital, Ande-Rubiáns s/n, Vilagarcía de Arousa, Pontevedra, Spain. maite-garcia@wanadoo.es.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: García-Sanz
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pol-Balado
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abellás
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cánive-Gómez
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antón-Sanmartin
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: González-Barcala