Education is Essential: Risk Factors for Frequent Hospitalization in Patients with COPD

Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common disease characterized by acute exacerbations requiring hospitalization.

Objectives And Methods: The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of patients hospitalized with acute exacerbation of COPD and the risk factors associated with frequent hospitalization.

This study was conducted with 113 patients hospitalized with acute exacerbation of COPD between 2015 - 2017.

Results: There were 59(52.2%) patients in the frequent hospitalization group, and 54(47.8%) patients in the non-frequent hospitalization group. There were 34(64%) patients under 65 years of age, and 25(42%) patients over 65 years of age in the frequent hospitalization group. There were 19(36%) patients under 65 years of age, and 35(58%) patients over 65 years of age in the non-frequent hospitalization group(p=0.017). There were 46(46.9%) literate patients, and 13(86.7%) illiterate patients in the frequent hospitalization group. There were 52(53.1%) literate patients, and 2(13.3%) illiterate patients in the non-frequent hospitalization group(p=0.010). There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of Long-Term Oxygen Therapy (LTOT), BIPAPtherapy and nebulizer treatment before hospitalization (p=0.001,p=0.001,p=0.000).mMRC score, duration of COPD, forced expiratory volume in one secondand forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity were significant(p=0.000,p=0.14, p=0.041, p=0.034).

Multivariate analysis indicated that the risk of frequent hospitalization increased in illiterate patients and in patients receiving nebulizer treatment.

Conclusion: Patients with COPD who are illiterate or receive nebulizer treatment are at serious risk of hospitalization. This group of patients should be followed with special care to reduce hospitalizations.

Keywords: COPD, frequent hospitalization, risk, mortality.