Characteristics of hospitalised patients with COPD in the Nordic countries

Abstract

Summary The objective of the present study was to examine differences in the characteristics and management of hospitalised patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to determine factors related to the duration of the hospital stay in the Nordic countries. The study comprised 416 patients from five University Hospitals (Bergen, Reykjavik, Uppsala, Tampere and Copenhagen). The patients were interviewed and spirometry was performed. Psychological status was assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression questionnaire and quality of life with the St. Georges’ Hospital Respiratory Questionnaire. The mean age was 69 years, 51% were women. The majority of the patients (76%) had severe COPD (GOLD stage III and IV) and 24% were on long-term oxygen therapy. Forty five % of the patients had cardio-vascular disease and 11% diabetes. In Bergen, Uppsala and Tampere over half of the patients had anxiety and depression but the prevalence of psychiatric co-morbidity was lower in Reykjavik and Copenhagen. The median length of the hospitalisation was 7–8 days in four of the five centres but two times higher in Reykjavik. The independent predictors for a longer hospitalisation was living alone (+3 days), being on long-term oxygen (+8 days) and having diabetes (+5 days). In conclusion, this study revealed substantial differences in the characteristics and management of hospitalised COPD patients between departments of respiratory disease in five Nordic university hospitals. Living alone, concurrent diseases like diabetes and long-term oxygen therapy are predictors of more prolonged hospitalisation periods.