Increased mortality associated with frequent exacerbations in COPD patients with mild-to-moderate lung function impairment, and smokers with normal spirometry.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The burden of frequent respiratory exacerbations in COPD patients with mild-to-moderate spirometric impairment and smokers with preserved lung function is unknown.

Methods

We categorized COPD participants in COPDGene with post-bronchodilator FEV1%predicted≥50% by the annual exacerbation frequency into three groups: i)frequent exacerbators (top 5%; n = 109), ii)exacerbators (>0 but less than frequent exacerbators; n = 1,009), and iii)No exacerbation (n = 981). Exacerbations were defined as respiratory episodes requiring antibiotics and/or systemic steroids. We performed a Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to examine the association with mortality. We repeated the same process in current/former smokers with preserved spirometry (FEV1≥80%predicted and FEV1

SUBMITTER: Fortis S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9333066 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature