Hospitalized acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: which patients may have a negative clinical outcome?

Factors associated with risk of death in hospitalized patients for exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: an updated scoping review

INTRODUCTION

The Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (ECOPD), especially if leading to hospitalization, increases the risk of death. Our scoping review aims to identify updated mortality risk factors in both short- and long-term periods.

AREAS COVERED

A comprehensive search, covering the period from January 2013 to February 2024, was performed to identify eligible studies that consider factors associated with death in hospitalized ECOPD. We considered short-term mortality, up to one year (including in-hospital mortality, IHM) and long-term mortality over one year, without time limits. We excluded studies concerning the intensive care area.

EXPERT OPINION

We considered 38 studies, 32 and 8 reporting data about short- and long-term mortality, respectively. Two studies consider both periods. Several factors, some already known, others newly identified, have been evaluated and discussed. Some of these were related to the characteristics and severity of COPD (age, body mass index, lung impairment), and some considered the response to ECOPD. In this last context, we focused on the increasing role of biomarkers in predicting the mortality of patients, particularly IHM. Our factors associated with a worse prognosis may be helpful in the clinical practice to identify patients at risk and, subsequently, determine a personalized approach.

Association Between Rome Classification Among Hospitalized Patients With COPD Exacerbations and Short-Term and Intermediate-Term Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Recently, the Rome proposal updated the definition of exacerbation of COPD (ECOPD). However, such severity grade has not yet demonstrated intermediate-term clinical relevance.

RESEARCH QUESTION

What is the association between the Rome severity classification and short-term and intermediate-term clinical outcomes?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We retrospectively grouped hospitalized patients with ECOPD according to the Rome severity classification (ie, mild, moderate, severe). Baseline, clinical, microbiologic, gas analysis, and laboratory variables were collected. In addition, data about the length of hospital stay and mortality (in-hospital and a follow-up time line from 6 months until 3 years) were assessed.

RESULTS

Of the 347 hospitalized patients, 39% were categorized as mild, 31% were categorized as moderate, and 30% were categorized as severe. Overall, patients with severe ECOPD had an extended length of hospital stay. Although in-hospital mortality was similar among groups, patients with severe ECOPD presented a worse prognosis in all follow-up time points. The Kaplan-Meier curves show the role of the severe classification in the cumulative survival at 1 and 3 years (Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon test, P = .032 and P = .004, respectively). The multivariable Cox regression analysis showed a higher risk of death at 1 year when patients presented a severe (hazard ratio, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.49-2.65) or moderate grade (hazard ratio, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.10-1.97) compared with a mild grade. Older patients (aged ≥ 80 years), patients requiring long-term oxygen therapy, or patients reporting previous ECOPD episodes had a higher mortality risk. A BMI between 25 and 29 kg/m2 was associated with a lower risk.

INTERPRETATION

The Rome classification makes it possible to discriminate patients with a worse prognosis (severe or moderate) until a 3-year follow-up.

Pneumonic versus Nonpneumonic Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often suffer acute exacerbations (AECOPD) and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), named nonpneumonic and pneumonic exacerbations of COPD, respectively. Abnormal host defense mechanisms may play a role in the specificity of the systemic inflammatory response. Given the association of this aspect to some biomarkers at admission (e.g., C-reactive protein), it can be used to help to discriminate AECOPD and CAP, especially in cases with doubtful infiltrates and advanced lung impairment. Fever, sputum purulence, chills, and pleuritic pain are typical clinical features of CAP in a patient with COPD, whereas isolated dyspnea at admission has been reported to predict AECOPD. Although CAP may have a worse outcome in terms of mortality (in hospital and short term), length of hospitalization, and early readmission rates, this has only been confirmed in a few prospective studies. There is a lack of methodologically sound research confirming the impact of severe AECOPD and COPD + CAP. Here, we review studies reporting head-to-head comparisons between AECOPD and CAP + COPD in hospitalized patients. We focus on the epidemiology, risk factors, systemic inflammatory response, clinical and microbiological characteristics, outcomes, and treatment approaches. Finally, we briefly discuss some proposals on how we should orient research in the future.

How may we improve clinical outcomes for patients hospitalized with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? A narrative review about possible therapeutic and preventive strategies

Introduction: In a subset of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)patients the course of the disease is complicated by a severe acute exacerbations (AECOPD) that may require hospitalization, at which time negative outcomes may occur up to 30 days after discharge. Several predictors of negative outcomes have been documented.Areas covered: We considered five negative outcomes related to patients hospitalized with AECOPD: treatment failure, noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) failure, prolonged length of hospital stay (LHS), short-term mortality (≤ 90 days from admission and including the in-hospital mortality), and early readmission (≤30 days from discharge). Possible therapeutic and preventive strategies to improve these outcomes are outlined and discussed.Expert opinion: Several strategies have been proposed to improve outcomes. Among these, steroid or antibiotic use may reduce the risks of treatment failure or of prolonged hospital stay. We note that operator-related factors may influence the outcome of NIMV. However, little has been documented about the short-term mortality or early readmission rates. In general, few interventions consistently improve negative outcomes and prognosis of AECOPD.