Prognostic markers after exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A new computerized multivariate algorithm

This study aimed to verify whether baseline clinical and laboratory parameters could predict the outcome for patients hospitalized due to acutely exacerbated COPD. To define the clinical and laboratory variables predictive of early mortality in patients with COPD, 50 consecutive admissions were studied, including 34 males and 16 female, with a mean age of 56 + 11 years. In all patients, demographic data, admission hemodynamics and arterial blood gases, mechanical ventilation, worst expressed as P02 <50 mun Hg PC02 /<30 or >/55 mum Hg and evident shunt P02/F102 /<200 were measured. The system for prognostication in patients with exacerbated COPD was based on a multivariate approach with staged trials using demographic data, admission hemodynamics and arterial blood gases. The study concluded that to allow prognostication in patients with COPD, a reasonable objective system was suggested for assessment, with a predictive accuracy reaching 96%. This system is characterized by being user-friendly, comprehensive and highly predictive