Federico Germini1, Giacomo Veronese2, Maura Marcucci3, Daniele Coen2, Deborah Ardemagni4, Nicola Montano5, Andrea Fabbri6. 1. Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (formerly Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada,; Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Emergency Department, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: germinif@mcmaster.ca. 2. Department of Emergency Medicine, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda Ca' Granda, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy. 3. Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (formerly Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. 4. Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. 5. Emergency Department, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. 6. Department of Emergency Medicine, Ospedale Morgagni-Pierantoni, Forlì, Italy.
Abstract
Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPDs) frequently cause patients with COPD to access the emergency department and have a negative impact on the course of the disease. The objectives of our study were: 1) describing the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, and the clinical management, of patients with AECOPD, when they present to the emergency department; and 2) estimating the costs related to the management of these patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in Italy, collecting data on 4396 patients, from 34 centres. Patients had a mean (SD) age of 76,6 (10.6) years, and 61.2% of them where males. >70% of the patients had a moderate to very high comorbidity burden, and heart failure was present in 26.4% of the cohort. The 64.6% of patients were admitted to hospital wards, with a mean (SD) length of stay of 10.8 (9.8) days. The estimated cost per patient was 2617 €. CONCLUSIONS: Patients attending the ED for an AECOPD are old and present important comorbidities. The rate of admission is high, and costs are remarkable.
Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPDs) frequently cause patients with COPD to access the emergency department and have a negative impact on the course of the disease. The objectives of our study were: 1) describing the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, and the clinical management, of patients with AECOPD, when they present to the emergency department; and 2) estimating the costs related to the management of these patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in Italy, collecting data on 4396 patients, from 34 centres. Patients had a mean (SD) age of 76,6 (10.6) years, and 61.2% of them where males. >70% of the patients had a moderate to very high comorbidity burden, and heart failure was present in 26.4% of the cohort. The 64.6% of patients were admitted to hospital wards, with a mean (SD) length of stay of 10.8 (9.8) days. The estimated cost per patient was 2617 €. CONCLUSIONS:Patients attending the ED for an AECOPD are old and present important comorbidities. The rate of admission is high, and costs are remarkable.
Authors: Mahssa Mohebbichamkhorami; Mohsen Arbabi; Mohsen Mirzaei; Ali Ahmadi; Mohammad Sadegh Hassanvand; Hamid Rouhi Journal: J Environ Health Sci Eng Date: 2020-10-03