Clinical Factors Associated with an Increased Risk of Death at and During Hospitalization for an Acute Exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) and for a Short Period after Discharge

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) are unfavourable events interrupting the stable phase of disease and that in some cases require admission to hospital; this aspect may influence the general prognosis during hospitalization and for a short period after discharge. In this editorial, we have highlighted some aspects related to the close link between AECOPD and all-cause mortality; we report several clinical factors that may be defined as risk factors for mortality at admission, during hospitalization and for a short period after discharge. These predictors of death in AECOPD may help physicians to accurately predict prognosis and therefore, behave differently in the clinical management of COPD patients.