Описание

Аннотация

Objective: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth most common cause of death in the world according to the reports of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Exacerbations impair the quality of life, fastens the progression of the disease and, thus, plays an important role in the morbidity and mortality of the disease. In this study with, we aimed to investigate the factors effecting the characteristics of the patients admitted to our emergency department (ED) due to COPD exacerbation in term of management, dischargement, hospitalization and death. Method: This retrospective study was approved by the Local Ethic Comitee of Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital. This study consists of 106 patients with diagnosis of COPD. Results: Into our study, 106 patients were included. Of these patients, 58 were male and 48 were female, and mean age was 67.62±11.67. 56 of our patients expressed that they were active smokers, 19 expressed that they gave up smoking and 56 expressed that they have never smoke. In the last year, mean number of exacerbations was 10.1±6.1. While 50 (47.2%) patients were discharged from the ED, others were hospitalized or transferred to other hospitals. 15 patients were transferred to the ICU. Mean age of these patients was 76.13±12.03 (p= 0.002). 8 patients admitted to the ICU were smokers and mean smoking period was 42.88 ± 7.58 years. Inpatients not transferred to the ICU, this period was 35.26±11.12 years (p= 0.035). In the ED and ICU 11 deaths (10.37%) occured. 9 patients did not know the drugs they use at home (p= 0.026). Exacerbation frequency in the past year was 14.45 ± 5.7 (p= 0.008). 1 patient who died had undergone NIMV followed by IMV and 10 patients had undergone IMV. None of the patients in our study were vaccinated. We determined that smoking is the most important ethiological factor. Conclusion: We also determined that main target to reduce the frequency of annual exacerbations is patient education and patient concordance. When compared to mono therapy, combined inhaler therapy reduced the frequency of exacerbations and increases the rate of discharge.