title: Hospitalizations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations and their impact on disease and subsequent morbidity and mortality.
abstract: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), progressive airflow limitation is a risk factor for development of disease exacerbations, which, when severe, may require hospitalization. In the discussed study, a large cohort of patients hospitalized for their first COPD exacerbation were analyzed in terms of subsequent hospitalizations and mortality risk. COPD hospitalizations were found to be a risk factor for subsequent COPD-related hospitalizations, to increase their incidence and to increase the disease-related mortality risk. Male gender was also identified as a risk factor for a higher COPD-related morbidity and mortality. Hospitalizations for COPD exacerbation should be considered as additional criterion for disease severity in tailoring the disease management.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Pharmacy Grigore T Popa, 16 Universităţii Str, Iasi 700115, Romania. sabinaantoniu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sabina Antonela
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Antoniu
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carone