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Research Article

Impact of clinical factors on hospital stay and hospital readmission rate after acute exacerbation of COPD: a retrospective cross-sectional study

[version 1; peer review: 1 approved]
PUBLISHED 16 Jan 2023
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Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition with high morbidity and cost to health services due to a high number of exacerbations necessitating multiple and prolonged hospitalizations. The length of hospital stays and hospital readmission rate is related to patient age, sex, disease severity, current smoking status, comorbidities, dyspnea grade, carbon dioxide partial pressures, use of mechanical ventilation, previous exacerbation, long-term oxygen therapy, and inpatient diuretics use. The purpose of the study was to identify the differential effects of patient and treatment-related factors on the length of hospital stay and hospital readmission for COPD exacerbation-related admissions.
Methods: A hospital-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 151 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD admitted at Civil Service Hospital, Kathmandu from August 2021 to March 2022. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee, Civil Service Hospital (Reference no. 18/ 2022). A convenience sampling method was followed. Data regarding different clinical factors were collected in a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were entered and analyzed through Microsoft Excel 365 and SPSS version 22.0 using a binary regression model.
Results: Comorbidities, current smoking, dyspnea grade mMRC IV, mechanical ventilation, and long-term oxygen therapy were significantly associated with prolonged hospital stays for COPD exacerbation-related admissions. The corresponding odd ratio is (OR 3.4, 95% CI: 1.24–9.29); (OR 21.4, 95% CI: 6.17–74.57); (OR 2.5, 95% CI: 1.20–5.45); (OR 5.6, 95% CI: 1.20–26.35); (OR 2.4, 95% CI: 1.02–5.90), respectively.
Conclusions: The effect of clinical factors such as comorbidities status, current smoking habits, higher grade of mMRC dyspnea scale, mechanical ventilation, and long-term oxygen therapy needed to be considered to optimize care for COPD patients needing hospital admissions and hence decrement in hospital costs.

Keywords

demography, diuretics, exacerbation, frequency, neoplasm, oxygen, prevalence, regression

Introduction

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is now one of the top three causes of death worldwide and 90% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. More than three million people died of COPD in 2012 accounting for 6% of all deaths globally.1 It is a condition with high morbidity and cost to health services. Hospitalizations due to COPD negatively affect the well-being of patients with an impact on length and quality of life. Patients with COPD undergo frequent exacerbations which are defined as an acute worsening of respiratory symptoms (increased dyspnea, increased sputum purulence and volume, together with increased cough and wheeze) that results in additional therapy.1 The length of hospital stay for an acute exacerbation of COPD is related to several factors; these include age, disease severity, the presence of comorbidities, dyspnea perception, respiratory rate, and the need for mechanical ventilation or an intensive care unit. Other variables, such as admissions at the weekend and social factors, have also been considered relevant.2 Similarly, hospital readmission after discharge of a COPD patient is affected by many factors. The commonest risk factors for all-cause readmissions within 30 and 90 days are comorbidities, previous exacerbations, hospitalizations, and increased length of stay during the initial admission.3 Gender differences also play a role in the hospital readmission rate.4 Understanding these influences, we can suggest strategies targeting culprit factors so that hospital stays, and readmission rates can be minimized. Thus, the economic burden on society and the psychological effect on the patient can be avoided. Our study aimed to identify the differential effects of patient-related factors and treatment factors on the length of hospital stay and hospital readmission rate for exacerbation of COPD-related admissions.

Methods

Ethical consideration

The Institutional Review Committee (IRC), Civil Service Hospital of Nepal provided ethical clearance on 14th August 2022 with reference no 18/2022 after submitting the proposal letter beforehand.

Study design and setting

This hospital-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with acute exacerbation of COPD admitted at Civil Service Hospital, Kathmandu, which is an autonomous government health institution under the Ministry of General Administration. It is one of the tertiary care referral centers in the country. It is 132 bedded hospital with many specialist services. The hospital serves the population of Kathmandu valley including many referral cases from outside the valley. It belongs to Bagmati Pradesh which has the highest burden of COPD cases-annual health report Nepal 2077/78.5 The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines were strictly followed during the study.6

Sample size calculation

The study participants included COPD patients admitted related to exacerbation from August 2021 to March 2022. The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was reported to be 11.7% in 2019.7 A total of 151 samples were calculated considering an infinite population proportion of COPD patient prevalence in Nepal (11.7%); p=0.11; q=0.89; alpha 5% level of significance; with the allowable error of (E)=5.

The detailed elaboration is as follows:

n=z2×pxqE2=1.962×0.11×0.890.052=151

Where,

n = required minimum sample size

z = 1.96 at alpha 5% level of significance

p = prevalence = 0.11; q (compliment of prevalence) = 0.89

E = allowable error, 5%

Our study began when our study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Committee (IRC), Civil Service Hospital of Nepal. Hospital records were used to select cases via convenience sampling where researchers collected samples randomly and on a convenient basis. All patients admitted for acute exacerbation of COPD to Civil Service Hospital were included in the study. However, patients with a documented history of concomitant chronic respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma, cystic fibrosis, or interstitial lung disease), those with community-acquired pneumonia or heart failure, and those with incomplete and ambiguous data were excluded from the study. A prolonged hospital stay is defined as a patient admitted for more than 7 days due to COPD-related exacerbation. The duration was calculated by subtracting the date of discharge from the date of admission. For this study, comorbid conditions were defined as patients having ischemic heart disease, congestive heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, uncontrolled HTN, hypothyroidism, and neoplasm. Before data collection a proper orientation with all coauthors was performed. Data regarding participants’ name, address, age at the time of admission, sex (self-reported); hospital readmission within the first 30 days; duration of hospital stay (fewer than 7 days or prolonged); comorbidities if any; smoking status (nonsmoker/ex-smoker/current smoker); the patient’s dyspnea according to the modified MRC dyspnea grade (mMRC); the requirement of mechanical ventilation in complicated cases; any episodes of previous COPD exacerbation-related admissions; whether the patient was on regular domiciliary oxygen therapy or not and the requirement of the diuretic use in the hospital were carefully recorded in a semi-structured questionnaire. The co guide monitored every aspects of study during data collection and analysis process.

Statistical analysis

The data were entered into Microsoft Excel 365 and then analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS), IBM SPSS® v22. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviations were used to express the statistics as applicable. We described the categorical data as frequency and proportions and continuous data as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The binary logistic regression was used to identify the association of COPD exacerbation-related hospital stays and hospital readmission rate with the background characteristics of patients and treatment-related factors. For binary logistic regression analysis, odds ratios (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were calculated, and significance was established.

Results

A total of 151 participants admitted with acute exacerbation of COPD, were enrolled for the study which met the inclusion criteria. Table 1 shows the age of participants ranged from 46 to 94 years with a mean age of 73.54±11.01. Out of 151 participants, 50 (33.10%) belonged to the 70–79 years age group followed by 48 (31.8%) in the 80–89 years age group; 34 (22.5%) in the 60–69 years age group. The least accounted for the age group 40–49 years, which was only 4 (2.6%). Our study revealed sex distribution of female preponderance (94, 62.3%) with a sex ratio of 1:1.64.

Table 1. Patient demography.

CharacteristicsFrequency (n)Percentage
COPD patient age (years)Mean±SD 73.54±11.01
Age group
40–4942.6
50–5996.0
60–693422.5
70–795033.1
80–894831.8
90–9964.0
SexMale: 57
Female: 94
Male: 37.7
Female: 62.3

The data in Table 2 demonstrates, only a few of the admitted patients (34, 22.5%) had a history of hospital admission related to exacerbation during the last 30 days.

Table 2. Hospital readmission within 30 days.

Hospital readmission
Frequencies (n)Percentage
No11777.5
Yes3422.5
Total151100.0

The average hospital stay was 8.3±3.1 days with a range of 1–16 (15 days) (7.78–8.82) at 95% CI). While a proportion of hospital stays of fewer than seven days was found in 49% (74) of patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, 51% (77) were admitted for more than 7 days before discharge Table 3.

Table 3. Duration of hospital stay.

Hospital stay (days)
Mean±SD = 8.3±3.1 days
Range=1–16=15 days
Frequencies (n)Percentage
Less than 7 days7449.0
7 or more than 7 days7751.0
Total151100.0

Table 4 reveals that the comorbidities were found in 110 (72.8%) participants. Most participants were previous smokers (97 (64.2%)), and 41 (27.2%) were current smokers. However, 13 (8.6%) patients had no history of smoking. During the time of admission, 81 patients had grade III category on mMRC dyspnea scale while the remaining had grade IV (46.4%,70). The hospital record section revealed that 40 (26.5%) people altogether underwent mechanical ventilation with intubation during treatment. Previous exacerbation and admission were found in 114 (75.5%) patients. Similarly, only a few patients (40, 26.5%) with COPD exacerbation were on long-term domiciliary oxygen therapy. The physician required inpatient administration of diuretics among 71 (47.0%) patients.

Table 4. Patient and treatment-related clinical factors.

SNRisk factorsFrequencies (n)Percentage
1.aComorbiditiesNo4127.2
Yes11072.8
2.SmokingNonsmoker138.6
Current smoker4127.2
Ex-smoker9764.2
3.mMRC gradeGarde IV7046.4
Grade III8153.6
4.Mechanical ventilationNo13473.5
Yes1726.5
5.Previous exacerbationNo3724.5
Yes11475.5
6.Long-term oxygen therapyNo11173.5
Yes4026.5
7.Hospital diuretics useNo8053.0
Yes7147.0

a Comorbidities include ischemic heart disease, Congestive heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, uncontrolled HTN, Hypothyroidism, neoplasm.

According to Table 5 the clinical factors associated with prolonged hospital stays (>7 days) during acute exacerbation of COPD patients, were analyzed using the binary logistic regression model. Comorbidities were found significantly associated (more than four times) with prolonged hospital stays in COPD (OR 4.4, 95% CI: 1.32–15.09). The smoking status also has a great impact on prolonged hospital stays. Current smoking was associated 41-times more with prolonged hospital stay (OR 41.59, 95% CI: 7.13–242.63).

Table 5. Effect of clinical factors on hospital stay among COPD patients.

SNRisk factorsHospital stays prolonged?Binary logistic regression
No (n)Yes (%)OR (odd ratio)Confidence Interval
LowerUpper
1.Age group
40–49220.5580.01619.022
50–59720.2100.0067.127
60–69132111.3430.914140.765
70–7930203.0440.28532.551
80–8920287.532.61592.311
90–99241 Ref
2.Sex
Male27300.7380.2901.875
Female47471 Ref
3.Hospital readmission
No65521 Ref
Yes9251.8790.4577.734
4.Comorbidities
No29121 Ref
Yes45654.4781.32915.097
5.Smoking status
Nonsmoker1030.6560.1383.109
Current smoker33841.5977.131242.632
Ex-smoker61361 Ref
6.MMRC grade
III48331 Ref
IV26440.5650.2291.396
7.Mechanical ventilation
No71641 Ref
Yes3134.5580.56636.679
8.Previous exacerbation
No22151 Ref
Yes52621.8790.6525.410
9.Long-term oxygen therapy
No61501 Ref
Yes13271.5550.5434.457
10.Diuretics use
No45351 Ref
Yes29420.9170.3532.380

As per Table 6, the age group 80–89 years, 70–79 years, and 60–69 years were found to have a most of the admission rate of 12 out of 34 (35.3%), nine out of 34 (26.4%), eight out of 34 (23.5%), respectively, within the last month of admission. Similarly, female participants (n=23); hospital stay more than seven days (n=25), the presence of comorbidities (n=25), current smoker (n=15)/ex-smoker (n=16); MMRC grade IV (n=22), no requirement of mechanical ventilation (n=21), participant without long term oxygen therapy (n=18) and use of diuretics (n=18) represented the maximal proportion of patients. However, mechanical ventilation (OR 48.77, 95% CI: 9.08–261.86) and long-term oxygen therapy (OR 5.37, 95% CI: 1.75–16.49) was concluded to be associated significantly with high hospital admission.

Table 6. Effect of clinical factors on hospital readmission rate among COPD patients.

SNRisk factorsHospital readmissionBinary logistic regression
No (n)Yes (%)OR (odd ratio)Confidence interval
LowerUpper
1.Age group
40–49310.9350.01653.895
50–59721.3610.03750.186
60–692681.0600.04922.863
70–794192.0410.10340.467
80–8936124.1670.20186.397
90–99421 Ref
2.Sex
Male46111.3170.4563.806
Female71231 Ref
3.Hospital stays
Less than 7 days6591 Ref
7 or more than 7 days52252.0300.5128.043
4.Comorbidities
No3291 Ref
Yes85250.2210.0530.924
5.Smoking status
Nonsmoker1034.0160.67823.774
Current smoker26151.9680.6076.379
Ex-smoker81161 Ref
6.MMRC grade
III69121 Ref
IV48220.4280.1511.209
7.Mechanical ventilation
No113211 Ref
Yes41348.7779.085261.867
8.Long-term oxygen therapy
No93181 Ref
Yes24165.3791.75416.494
9.Diuretics use
No64161 Ref
Yes53181.5391.504.485

Discussion

COPD is common in chronic smokers. Our study showed the average age of participants admitted with COPD exacerbation was 73.54 years with the predominant 70 to 79 years age group. A retrospective study showed the mean age at COPD diagnosis was 68.1 years in the year 2000 while it was 66.7 years in 2009.8 Another retrospective study conducted in Sweden demonstrated the median age at COPD diagnosis being 74 years (range=34–95).9 Moreover, this study showed female patients had a high percentage of COPD exacerbation whereas a similar study done in Sweden found similar findings. The study concluded, COPD was more prevalent among women (53.8%) and women with COPD experienced more exacerbations with respect to men (6.66 versus 4.66).10 The average hospital stay duration during COPD exacerbation was 8.3±3.1 days. However, the average duration was high in a retrospective study performed in the Macao population (12.28±9.23) days.11

Furthermore, the duration of hospital stay was almost equally distributed among the less than 7 days and more than seven days categories in our study. The current results are very similar to a study conducted (84, 51% prolonged stay >7 days) in Sismanogleio General Hospital, Greece.12

The study revealed that the age group 80–89 years represented the highest proportion of patients with prolonged hospital stays. But the former study showed the highest population of patients with prolonged stay belonged to age 72.3–79.0 years.12 Female patients with COPD were found to have stayed hospital prolonged (61%) before discharge. The conclusions drawn were the same in another study led by Hatice et al. who concluded that female patients are more prone to have severe exacerbations, a higher number of hospitalizations, and prolonged lengths of stay for hospitalization.13 Another factor found significantly (four times) associated with prolonged hospital stay was comorbidities. A hospital-based study in the USA confirmed that having at least one comorbidity was associated with a 13% greater length of stay (IRR=1.13, 95% CI 1.11–1.15).14 Study findings are further supported by evidence from another cross-sectional study done in tertiary care centers in 2013. It explains a significant association between mean hospitalizations and the presence of comorbidities (p<0.05).15 Our retrospective study demonstrated a significant association between COPD exacerbation-related prolonged hospital stay and current smoking habit (49%) as compared to nonsmokers and ex-smokers. On the other hand, a cohort study in the USA concluded that in comparison to current smokers, ex-smokers had a significantly reduced risk of COPD exacerbation after adjusting for age, comorbidities, markers of COPD severity, and socio-economic status.16 A Nepali cross-sectional retrospective study in a teaching hospital showed a number of comorbidities (p=0.01), dyspnea grade at presentation (p<0.001), eosinophil percentage (p=0.017), use of inhalational medications (p=0.007) and the use of mechanical ventilation (p<0.001) had a significant association with length of hospital stay.17 Furthermore, the previous exacerbations have a high propensity (80%) to cause longer hospital stays. But another study demonstrated patients with ≥1 previous acute exacerbation of COPD requiring hospitalization, the prolonged hospital stay was seen in 38% of patients as compared to 28% of participants who had a normal stay (p=0.029).18 The proportion in our study accounts for twice higher.

The proportion of patients who had readmission within 30 days constituted 22.5% in this current study which is higher than a retrospective study done in Beijing that revealed the proportion as 15.8%19 but very similar to a study done in Korea that showed the readmission percentage was 26.4%.20 Our observational study found the age group 80–89 years had the highest proportion of readmission rate (35%). The results are supported by a systematic review and meta-analysis that describes older patients with COPD typically had a greater likelihood of being readmitted.21 The likely reason may be the effect of ageing on residual lung function. This study demonstrates the higher readmission rate among females. On the contrary, the male participants were found of the highest proportion of COPD readmission.22 Similarly, the presence of one or more comorbidities, previous prolonged hospital stays, and long-term oxygen therapy stood as predominant findings for higher readmission in our study. The findings are similar to a prospective study that elaborates the commonest risk factors for all-cause readmissions within 30 and 90 days were comorbidities, previous exacerbations, hospitalizations, and increased length of stay during the initial admission.3 Another study done in South Korea showed that higher re-admission rates were associated with male sex, admission to district hospitals, medical aid recipients, and a longer hospital stay which further supports the evidence.22 Another Chinese study found Education level, smoking status, coronary heart disease, hospitalization times of acute exacerbation of COPD in the past one-year, long-term home oxygen therapy, regular medication, nutritional status, and seasonal factors were the influencing factors for readmission.23 Previous use of mechanical ventilation was associated significantly with a higher rate of readmission.

Limitation of the study

The sample was taken from the study population admitted at Civil Service Hospital. Therefore, its findings cannot be generalized to other hospitals/places. As a result, a population-based investigation is required to uncover the true effect of clinical factors on hospital stay during exacerbation of COPD.

Conclusion

Although there is a multitude of factors including many confounding factors affecting the duration of hospital stays, our study was only able to correlate with confidence with comorbidities status, current smoking habits, higher grade of mMRC dyspnea scale, mechanical ventilation, and long-term oxygen therapy. The physician may consider these facts to minimize the risk factors to decrease the duration of hospital stay and hence decrement in hospital costs. Understanding these influences will help optimize care for COPD patients needing hospital admissions.

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Chaurasiya PS, Lamsal DK, Khatri A and Aryal L. Impact of clinical factors on hospital stay and hospital readmission rate after acute exacerbation of COPD: a retrospective cross-sectional study [version 1; peer review: 1 approved]. F1000Research 2023, 12:64 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.127238.1)
NOTE: If applicable, it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.
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ApprovedThe paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested
Approved with reservations A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit.
Not approvedFundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions
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Reviewer Report 30 Jun 2023
Dhan Bahadur Shrestha, Department of Internal Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA 
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I had an interesting read of the manuscript by Chaurasiya et al. Research in the LMIC part of world is scarce and I applaud to the efforts put forth by authors to understand the readmission of COPD, one of the ... Continue reading
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Shrestha DB. Reviewer Report For: Impact of clinical factors on hospital stay and hospital readmission rate after acute exacerbation of COPD: a retrospective cross-sectional study [version 1; peer review: 1 approved]. F1000Research 2023, 12:64 (https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.139720.r176223)
NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.

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Alongside their report, reviewers assign a status to the article:
Approved - the paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested
Approved with reservations - A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit.
Not approved - fundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions
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