Acute COPD: Effect of Age and Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Hospital Utilization

Abstract

Background:

Acute COPD patients utilize the hospital for inpatient admissions and ER visits. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) can reduce use of health care resources. The null hypothesis was that neither patient age nor PR have a significant effect on hospital utilization.

Methods:

With IRB approval, discharge summaries from electronic medical records (EMR) were queried at a community hospital between January 1, 2016 and January 1, 2017. Inclusion criteria: inpatient status >1 day, >40 y of age, and primary admission ICD-10 code of COPD. Data collected: age (5 categories), combined encounters (ER visits without admission and inpatient re-admissions), PR referral/recommendation. Data analysis: P < .05 for descriptive statistics, t-test, two-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation for interval data.

Results:

See Table 1. For a P < .05 Pearson’s correlation found no significant association between age and combined encounters. A t-test found no significant difference in combined encounters based on PR status, PR (n = 13), No PR (n = 39) (P = .67). Two-way ANOVA found no significant differences in combined encounters between the 5 age categories and PR.

Conclusions:

Patient age and participation in PR do not have a significant effect on hospital utilization for COPD patients. Results may be due to the variability in discharge planning given for COPD patients. More standardized discharge planning for COPD patients may decrease hospital utilization. Further study to determine specific factors affecting ER visits and re-admissions is needed. Sponsored Research: None.