One-year mortality after severe COPD exacerbation in Bulgaria.

INTRODUCTION: One-year mortality in COPD patients is reported to be between 4% and 43%, depending on the group examined. AIM: To examine the one-year mortality in COPD patients after severe exacerbation and the correlation between mortality and patients' characteristics and comorbidities. METHODS: A total of 152 COPD patients hospitalized for severe exacerbation were assessed for vitamin D status, diabetes mellitus (DM), arterial hypertension (AH), and metabolic syndrome (MS). Data were gathered about smoking status and number of exacerbations in previous year. CAT and mMRC questionnaires were completed by all patients. Pre- and post-bronchodilatory spirometry was performed. One-year mortality was established from national death register. RESULTS: One-year mortality is 7.2%. DM, MS, and VD are not predictors for one-year mortality. However there is a trend for increased mortality in patients with AH (9.5% vs. 2.1%, p = 0.107). There is increased mortality in patients with mMRC > 2 (11.1 vs. 0%, p = 0.013). The presence of severe exacerbation in the previous year is a risk factor for mortality (12.5% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.009). There is a trend for increased mortality in the group with FEV1 < 50% (11.5 vs. 4.4%, p = 0.094). Cox regression shows 3.7% increase in mortality rate for 1% decrease in FEV1, 5.2% for 1% decrease in PEF, 7.8% for one year age increase and 8.1% for 1 CAT point increase (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study finds relatively low one-year mortality in COPD patients after surviving severe exacerbation. Grade C and FEV1 > 80% may be factors for good prognosis. Risk factors for increased mortality are age, FEV1 value, severe exacerbation in previous year and reduced quality of life.

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 in Hospitalized COPD Patients: Impact on Quality of Life and Lung Function.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is estimated to affect 2-37% of COPD patients, results varying widely between studies. DM may also correlate with quality of life and lung function. AIM: To examine correlations between DM and quality of life and lung function in COPD patients admitted to hospital with exacerbation of COPD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A hundred and fifty-two patients were included in the study. They were all examined for diabetes mellitus. All patients completed CAT and mMRC questionnaires and underwent spirometry. RESULTS: 13.2% (20/152) of patients received medications for DM. 21.7% (33/152) had newly diagnosed DM and 30.9% (47/152) had prediabetes. DM is not associated with reduced quality of life and worse pulmonary function. However, untreated DM is associated with both reduced quality of life and worse pulmonary function. HbA1c is negatively correlated with FVC and positively correlated with CAT score. CONCLUSIONS: COPD patients hospitalized for exacerbation are at high risk for impaired glucose metabolism. Untreated DM is associated with worse lung function and lower quality of life, which stresses the importance of screening for the disease. The patients may benefit from optimizing blood glucose level.

Metabolic syndrome in hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Introduction. The metabolic syndrome (MS) affects 21-53% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with a higher prevalence in the early stages of COPD, with results being highly variable between studies. MS may also affect natural course of COPD-number of exacerbations, quality of life and lung function. Aim. To examine the prevalence of MS and its correlation with comorbidities and COPD characteristics in patients with COPD admitted for exacerbation. Material and methods. 152 patients with COPD admitted for exacerbation were studied for presence of MS. All of them were also assessed for vitamin D status and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM). Data were gathered for smoking status and exacerbations during the last year. All patients completed CAT (COPD assessment test) and mMRC (Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea scale) questionnaires and underwent spirometry. Duration of current hospital stay was recorded. Results. 25% of patients have MS. 23.1% of the male and 29.5% of the female patients have MS (p > 0.05). The prevalence of MS in this study is significantly lower when compared to a national representative study (44.6% in subjects over 45 years). 69.1% of all patients and 97.4% from MS patients have arterial hypertension. The presence of MS is associated with significantly worse cough and sleep (1st and 7th CAT questions; p = 0.002 and p = 0.001 respectively) and higher total CAT score (p = 0.017). Average BMI is 27.31. None of the patients have MS and BMI <25. There is a correlation between the presence of MS and DM (p = 0.008) and with the number of exacerbations in the last year (p = 0.015). There is no correlation between the presence of MS and the pulmonary function. Conclusion. This study among hospitalized COPD patients finds comparable but relatively low prevalence of MS (25%) compared to previously published data (21-53%) and lower prevalence compared to general population (44.6%). MS may impact quality of life and the number of exacerbations of COPD. Having in mind that MS is more common in the early stages and decreases with COPD progression, the COPD patients admitted for exacerbation may be considered as having advanced COPD.

Vitamin D Deficiency and Insufficiency in Hospitalized COPD Patients.

INTRODUCTION: 31-77% of patients with COPD have vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, with results being highly variable between studies. Vitamin D may also correlate with disease characteristics. AIM: To find out the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in patients with COPD admitted for exacerbation and a risk factors for lower vitamin D levels among comorbidities and COPD characteristics. METHODS: 152 patients were studied for vitamin D serum levels (25(OH)D). All of them were also assessed for diabetes mellitus (DM) and metabolic syndrome (MS). Data were gathered also for smoking status and exacerbations in last year. All patients completed CAT and mMRC questionnaires and underwent spirometry. RESULTS: A total of 83,6% of patients have reduced levels of vitamin D. 42,8% (65/152) have vitamin D insufficiency (defined as 25-50 nmol/L) and 40,8% (62/152) have vitamin D deficiency (<25 nmol/L). The mean level of 25(OH)D for all patients is 31,97 nmol/L (95%CI 29,12-34,68). Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are more prevalent in females vs. males (97,7 vs 77,8%; p = 0.003). The prevalence and severity of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in this study is significantly higher when compared to an unselected Bulgarian population (prevalence 75,8%; mean level 38,75 nmol/L). Vitamin D levels correlate with quality of life (measured by the mMRC scale) and lung function (FVC, FEV1, FEV6, FEF2575, FEV3, but not with FEV1/FVC ratio and PEF), it does not correlate with the presence of arterial hypertension, DM, MS and number of moderate, severe and total exacerbations. Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for longer hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with COPD admitted for exacerbation are a risk group for vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, which is associated with worse disease characteristics.