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Hospital management of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Author(s) -
Chow Leonard,
Parulekar Amit D.,
Hanania Nicola A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of hospital medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.128
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1553-5606
pISSN - 1553-5592
DOI - 10.1002/jhm.2334
Subject(s) - medicine , copd , intensive care medicine , hospital medicine , pulmonary disease , emergency department , etiology , quality of life (healthcare) , disease , emergency medicine , exacerbation , disease management , nursing , psychiatry , parkinson's disease
The course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often complicated by episodes of acute worsening of respiratory symptoms, which may lead to escalation of therapy and occasionally emergency department visits and hospitalization. Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) have a negative impact on quality of life and hasten the decline of lung function. They also significantly contribute to the direct and indirect healthcare costs of this disease. Severe exacerbations (those leading to hospital admission) have been associated with significant poor outcomes including an increased risk of readmissions and mortality. COPD is currently the fourth leading cause of hospital readmission in the United States. In this review, we will provide a broad overview on the etiology, assessment, management, discharge planning, and follow‐up care of patients hospitalized with AECOPD. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2015;10:328–339. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine