Y Chen1, Q Li, H Johansen. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. ychen@uottawa.ca
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine sex and age variations in hospital readmissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with overall and cardiac comorbid conditions. DESIGN: A one-year follow-up study was conducted for 108 726 COPD in-patients aged >or=40 years who were discharged alive after their first admission in the 1999-2000 fiscal year. RESULTS: Within a year, 38 955 of the patients were readmitted to hospital for COPD. The incidence rate of COPD readmission was 49.1% per year. It was higher for men than women aged >or=70 years, but was almost the same for patients aged <70 years. The length of hospital stay and the Charlson Index at baseline moderately predicted 1-year COPD readmission in younger age groups and in female patients. Congestive heart failure at baseline was associated with a 20% increase in incidence that was age-related. Pulmonary heart disease was less common but was a significant predictor in almost all age and sex groups. Ischemic heart disease and arrhythmia were moderate predictors, and were only significant in women. CONCLUSIONS: Women aged <70 years had rates of COPD readmission similar to those of men. Cardiac events were strongly associated with COPD readmissions, which were modified by sex and age.
OBJECTIVE: To determine sex and age variations in hospital readmissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with overall and cardiac comorbid conditions. DESIGN: A one-year follow-up study was conducted for 108 726 COPD in-patients aged >or=40 years who were discharged alive after their first admission in the 1999-2000 fiscal year. RESULTS: Within a year, 38 955 of the patients were readmitted to hospital for COPD. The incidence rate of COPD readmission was 49.1% per year. It was higher for men than women aged >or=70 years, but was almost the same for patients aged <70 years. The length of hospital stay and the Charlson Index at baseline moderately predicted 1-year COPD readmission in younger age groups and in female patients. Congestive heart failure at baseline was associated with a 20% increase in incidence that was age-related. Pulmonary heart disease was less common but was a significant predictor in almost all age and sex groups. Ischemic heart disease and arrhythmia were moderate predictors, and were only significant in women. CONCLUSIONS:Women aged <70 years had rates of COPD readmission similar to those of men. Cardiac events were strongly associated with COPD readmissions, which were modified by sex and age.