• Chun Chang, Wan-zhen Yao, and Tian-shu Fang.
• Department of Respiratory Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China.
• Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2011 Mar 29; 91 (12): 824-7.

ObjectiveTo study the causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-related death and influencing factors of survival time from first hospitalization due to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).MethodsAll patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis of COPD (International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 Codes J40-J47) were continuously enrolled at our hospital from January 2006 to December 2008. A retrospective review was performed on the medical records of COPD patients who died during hospitalization. The causes of death were coded and analyzed according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10. The underlying causes of death were identified and ranked in order of prevalence. The medical records of first hospitalization due to AECOPD were reviewed. Retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data. And Cox regression analysis was used to select the independent risk factors of influencing the survival time.ResultsSixty-seven patients died during hospitalization. The median FEV(1) (forced expiratory volume in 1 second percentage) was 34%. The causes of death in the COPD inpatients were as follows: respiratory diseases (n = 39), cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (n = 16), malignant tumors (n = 10), diabetes mellitus (n = 1) and suicide (n = 1). Among them, 54 patients had a history of hospitalization due to AECOPD. Thirteen deceased patients were never hospitalized because of AECOPD. The mean interval between the first admission with AECOPD as the primary diagnosis and death was 38 months (range: 1 - 159). The independent risk factors of influencing the survival time were as follows: complications with coronary artery disease & severe pulmonary hypertension, age, body mass index (BMI) and serum level of C-reactive protein (CRP) (all P < 0.05).ConclusionThe major cause of death in moderate-severe COPD patients is respiratory disease. complicated with coronary artery disease & severe pulmonary hypertension, age, BMI and serum level of CRP are the independent risk factors of affecting the survival time from first hospitalization due to AECOPD.

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