Determination of the factors affecting duration of hospitalization in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Iran

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and is an important health economic problem. Since 1960, there has been an increase in mortality associated with COPD, especially in men. Acute exacerbations form a major component of the socioeconomic burden of COPD which mainly results in long-term hospitalization. Despite the high number of COPD-related hospitalizations, relatively little is known about the mortality rate and related determinants of patients hospitalized for this acute deterioration in the clinical course of COPD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting duration of hospitalization in Iranian patients with COPD. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 68 COPD patients who were hospitalized in Rasool-e-Akram hospital in Tehran, Iran for the period 2005-2006. During hospitalization, patients’ chief complaint, symptoms and signs, results of physical examinations, spirometry, arterial blood gas (ABG) and ICU admission were recorded. Data were analyzed using Independent T-test, One Way ANOVAand Correlation tests. Results: The patients were 41(60.3%) males and 27(39.7%) females with the mean age of 69.7(SD=13.52) years. The mean duration of hospitalization was 11.82(SD=5.49) days and 3(4.4%) patients died. The family history of pulmonary disease (P=0.018), habitual snoring (P=0.031), and mean baseline arterial PaO2 (P=0.010, r= -0.361) were determined as factors affecting duration of hospitalization. On the other hand, other factors such as smoking (P=0.992), patient’s gender (P=0.735) and spirometric indices did not significantly associate with duration of hospitalization. Conclusion:The fact that people hospitalized with COPD have a subsequently increased risk of death compared with those not hospitalized suggests the former are an atrisk group and shows the importance of factors affecting duration of hospitalization. Our results show that more attention must be paid on habitual snoring and low arterial pO2 which may have potential effects on duration of hospitalization in COPD patients.