The Risk Factors of Frequent Exacerbations of COPD

Abstract

We wanted to identify risk factors for re-hospitalization of patients with exacerbation and to assess the quality of medical care in outpatient and inpatient settings. Analysis of medical records of patients with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treated in hospitals 2015–2018 years. Risk factors for repeated hospitalizations were identified as male (relative risk 3.49; 95% confidence interval 1.45–8.43; p < 0.05), age over 70 years (p < 0.05), smoking experience ˃40 years (p < 0.05), COPD duration ˃10 years (relative risk 3.48; 95% confidence interval 2.27–5.34; p < 0.05), the presence of three or more comorbid pathologies (relative risk 2.0; 95% confidence interval 1.23–3.4; p < 0.05). Also important is the form of non-compliance with the regime in outpatient conditions and concomitant diseases in the hospital. Most of the factors are unmodifiable, so it is important to optimize treatment and control patient adherence. It is necessary to pay more attention to non-drug treatment methods: maintaining physical activity and quitting smoking. Taking into account the identified shortcomings in the quality of medical care provided to patients, they indicate the need for more active implementation of guidelines on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in real clinical practice.