Associations between chronic comorbidity and exacerbation risk in primary care patients with COPD

作者:Westerik Janine A M; Metting Esther I; van Boven Job F M; Tiersma Waling; Kocks Janwillem W H; Schermer Tjard R*
来源:Respiratory Research, 2017, 18(1): 31.
DOI:10.1186/s12931-017-0512-2

摘要

Background: COPD often coexists with chronic conditions that may influence disease prognosis. We investigated associations between chronic (co) morbidities and exacerbations in primary care COPD patients. Method: Retrospective cohort study based on 2012-2013 electronic health records from 179 Dutch general practices. Comorbidities from patients with physician-diagnosed COPD were categorized according to International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) codes. Chi-squared tests, uni-and multivariable logistic, and Cox regression analyses were used to study associations with exacerbations, defined as oral corticosteroid prescriptions. Results: Fourteen thousand six hundred three patients with COPD could be studied (mean age 67 (SD 12) years, 53% male) for two years. At baseline 12,826 (88%) suffered from >= 1 comorbidities, 3263 (22%) from >= 5. The most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension (35%), coronary heart disease (19%), and osteoarthritis (18%). Several comorbidities showed statistically significant associations with frequent (i.e., >= 2/year) exacerbations: heart failure (odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval: 1.72; 1.38-2.14), blindness & low vision (OR 1.46; 1.21-1.75), pulmonary cancer (OR 1.85; 1.28-2.67), depression 1.48; 1.14-1.91), prostate disorders (OR 1.50; 1.13-1.98), asthma (OR 1.36; 1.11-1.70), osteoporosis (OR 1.41; 1.11-1.80), diabetes (OR 0.80; 0.66-0.97), dyspepsia (OR 1.25; 1.03-1.50), and peripheral vascular disease (OR 1.20; 1.00-1.45). From all comorbidity categories, having another chronic respiratory disease beside COPD showed the highest risk for developing a new exacerbation (Cox hazard ratio 1.26; 1.17-1.36). Conclusion: Chronic comorbidities are highly prevalent in primary care COPD patients. Several chronic comorbidities were associated with having frequent exacerbations and increased exacerbation risk.

  • 出版日期2017-2-6