Gait speed and readmission following hospitalisation for acute exacerbations of COPD: a prospective study.
BACKGROUND
Hospitalisation for acute exacerbations of COPD is associated with high risk of readmission. However, no tool has been validated to stratify patients at discharge for risk of readmission.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the ability of the 4 m gait speed (4MGS), a surrogate marker of frailty, to predict risk of future readmission in hospitalised patients with an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD).


METHODS
213 patients hospitalised with an AECOPD were recruited prospectively. 4MGS was measured on day of discharge. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between 4MGS and readmission at 90 days after discharge.


RESULTS
Baseline characteristics of the cohort: 52% men; mean age 72 years; median FEV1 35%predicted. Mean (SD) 4MGS at hospital discharge was 0.61 (0.26) ms(-1). Significant increased rates of all-cause readmission at 90 days were seen across quartiles of decreasing 4MGS (Q4 fastest: 11.5%; Q3: 20.4%; Q2: 30.2%; Q1 slowest: 48.2%; p trend<0.001). Compared with Q4, those in the slowest 4MGS quartile had unadjusted ORs (95% CIs) for 90-day readmission of 7.12 (2.61 to 19.44) for the whole cohort and 11.56 (3.08 to 43.35) in those aged 65 or over. A multivariate model incorporating 4MGS, Charlson Index, hospital admission in past year, FEV1%predicted and number of exacerbations in past year in those aged 65 or over predicted 90-day readmission with a C-statistic of 0.86.


CONCLUSIONS
The 4MGS, a surrogate marker of physical frailty, independently predicts the risk of readmission in older patients hospitalised for acute exacerbation of COPD.


BACKGROUND
NCT01507415.
NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College, Harefield Hospital, Middlesex, UK The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Middlesex, UK.
Samantha S C
SS
Kon
NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College, Harefield Hospital, Middlesex, UK.
Sarah E
SE
Jones
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK.
Susie J
SJ
Schofield
NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College, Harefield Hospital, Middlesex, UK.
Winston
W
Banya
The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Middlesex, UK.
Mandy J
MJ
Dickson
NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College, Harefield Hospital, Middlesex, UK.
Jane L
JL
Canavan
NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College, Harefield Hospital, Middlesex, UK.
Claire M
CM
Nolan
The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Middlesex, UK.
Brigitte M
BM
Haselden
NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College, Harefield Hospital, Middlesex, UK.
Michael I
MI
Polkey
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK.
Paul
P
Cullinan
NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College, Harefield Hospital, Middlesex, UK.
William D-C
WD
Man
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012372:ROC Curve; D018570:Risk Assessment
COPD Exacerbations