ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by air flow limitation, which is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. There have been many studies on survival rates in the world literature, but there have been few reports regarding the survival rate in Korean patients with COPD. Acute exacerbation is regarded as a risk factor for mortality in patients with COPD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the survival rate and the effect of acute exacerbations on the survival rate of Korean patients with COPD. METHODS: A total of 502 COPD patients who were diagnosed on the basis of history and lung function tests were enrolled in this study. The frequency of acute exacerbations, body mass index (BMI), C-reactive protein (CRP) and pulmonary hypertension were analyzed. RESULTS: The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 98% and 83%, respectively. The median survival time was 78 months. The median survival time was 55 months in 322 patients with one or more acute exacerbations. The 3- and 5-year survival rates were significantly lower in the 322 patients with one or more acute exacerbations than in those without any. The mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with CRP >3 mg/L than in those with CRP < or =3 mg/L (p<0.005); it was significantly higher in patients with pulmonary hypertension than in those without it (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Because the 5-year survival rate is 83% in Korean patients with COPD, the management of stable patients with COPD should focus on the prevention of acute exacerbations.