Prolonged stay predictors in patients admitted with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease acute exacerbation

Objective To identify the factors related to prolonged stay in those patients admitted with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) to hospital. Methods Anumber of 661 patients were selected, all the patients admitted with AECOPD to Shanghai Pudong Hospital, either in the internal medical unit or pneumology department, from 2017 to 2018.The baseline characteristics, AECOPD characteristics and comorbidities were recorded. Results A number of 661 patients were assessed, 76.6% were male, and the mean age were 74.5 years.The mean stay were 11.9 days.24% of all patients required prolonged stay, 2.57% of all patients needed admission to intensive care unit (ICU), 14.67% of all patients were treated with noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV). The following factors were significantly associated with length of stay: age, lower hemoglobin count, chronic kidney disease, inpatient department, AECOPD characteristics, need for admission to ICU and the need for NIV, the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions Prolonged stay in AECOPD primarily related to the unit patients are admitted to, and the need for ICU and NIV. Key words: Length of stay; Intensive care units; Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Noninvasive mechanical ventilation