ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is associated with exacerbations and high risk of serious outcomes. Our goal was to determine the appropriateness of the ED management of COPD exacerbations. METHODS: This observational cohort study incorporated a health records review and included COPD exacerbation cases seen at two large academic EDs. We included all patients with the primary diagnosis of COPD exacerbation. From the electronic medical record, demographic and clinical data were abstracted, and the Ottawa COPD Risk Score (OCRS) was calculated for each. Short-term serious outcomes (SSO) included ICU admission, intubation, myocardial infarction, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIV), and death at 30 days. Cases were judged for appropriateness of treatment according to explicit indications and standards developed a priori. RESULTS: We enrolled 500 cases with mean age 71.9, female 51.2%, admitted 50.2%, and death 4.4%. The calculated OCRS score was >2 for 70.8% of patients. The treatments provided were inhaled beta-agonists (82.6%), inhaled anticholinergics (76.6%), corticosteroids (75.2%), antibiotics (71.0%), oxygen (63.8%), NIV (8.8%) and intubation (0.6%). Overall, 50.0% of cases were judged to have had inadequate management due to missing treatments. Specifically, the proportion of missing treatments were inhaled beta agonist (17.0%), inhaled anticholinergic (22.6%), corticosteroids (24.4%), antibiotics (12.8%), and NIV (2.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Adequate treatment of COPD exacerbation was lacking in 50.0% of patients in these two large academic EDs. Concerning were the number of patients not receiving corticosteroids or antibiotics. Implementation of explicit treatment standards should lead to improved patient care of this common and serious condition.
