title: COPD exacerbations -- a comparison of Irish data with European data from the ERS COPD Audit.
abstract: The European Respiratory Society COPD audit was a cross-sectional, multicentre study that analysed outcomes for COPD patients admitted to hospital with an exacerbation across Europe. We present the data on patients admitted to 11 Irish hospitals that participated in the audit. Among 237 patients (123 Male), the median age was 71 years and 79 (33%) patients were current smokers. 82 (35%) patients received high-flow oxygen before admission and 43 (18%) were cared for in a dedicated respiratory ward. 54 (23%) patients required ventilatory support. Median length of stay was 7 days, 98 (41%) patients were readmitted and 211 (89%) patients were alive at the 90 day follow up point. Irish patients were more likely to receive high-flow oxygen before admission, less likely to be managed in a dedicated respiratory ward and had a higher likelihood of readmission or death within 90 days than the European average.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Cork.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crinion
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Cork.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cotter
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Cork.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Cork.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Cork.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.affiliation: Irish Thoracic Society, Dublin.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: McDonnell
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Cork.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome