HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Permissions Request Permissions Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (10) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Marti, S. Articles by Ferrer, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Marti, S. Articles by Ferrer, J.

Body weight and comorbidity predict mortality in COPD patients treated with oxygen therapy

¹ Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital General Vall d'Hebron, and ² Laboratori de Bioestadística i Epidemiologia, Universtitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

CORRESPONDENCE: J. Ferrer, Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital General Vall d'Hebron, Passeig Vall d'Hebron, 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain. Fax: 34 932746083. E-mail: jjferrer{at}vhebron.net

Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, comorbidity, mortality, oxygen inhalation therapy, weight loss

Received: June 30, 2005
Accepted December 12, 2005

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between clinical variables and all-cause and respiratory mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) undergoing long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT).

The authors retrospectively studied a historic cohort of 128 patients with COPD (126 males, mean age±SD 68.9±9.7 yrs, body mass index (BMI) 25.1±4.5 kg·m^–2, and forced expiratory volume in one second 25.4±8.8% predicted), who were being treated with long-term oxygen therapy in a tertiary teaching hospital between 1992 and 1999. Comorbidity, assessed with the Charlson Index, was present in 38% of the patients. Vital status and cause of death were assessed through the population death registry.

A total of 78 patients (61%) had died by the end of follow-up. Three-year survival was 55%. Death was due to respiratory causes in 77% of cases. On Cox analysis, BMI <25 kg·m^–2, comorbid conditions, age 70 yrs and cor pulmonale were associated with all-cause mortality. The BMI and comorbidity were the only significant predictive factors when the analysis was restricted to respiratory mortality.

In conclusion, body mass index <25 kg·m^–2 and comorbidity were predictors of all-cause and respiratory mortality in a cohort of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients treated with long-term oxygen therapy. These factors should be taken into account when considering the management and prognosis of these patients.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				X. Munoz, F. Torres, G. Sampol, J. Rios, S. Marti, and E. Escrich Accuracy and reliability of pulse oximetry at different arterial carbon dioxide pressure levels Eur. Respir. J., October 1, 2008; 32(4): 1053 - 1059. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E Crisafulli, S Costi, F Luppi, G Cirelli, C Cilione, O Coletti, L M Fabbri, and E M Clini Role of comorbidities in a cohort of patients with COPD undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation Thorax, June 1, 2008; 63(6): 487 - 492. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Viegi, F. Pistelli, D. L. Sherrill, S. Maio, S. Baldacci, and L. Carrozzi Definition, epidemiology and natural history of COPD Eur. Respir. J., November 1, 2007; 30(5): 993 - 1013. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Makita, Y. Nasuhara, K. Nagai, Y. Ito, M. Hasegawa, T. Betsuyaku, Y. Onodera, N. Hizawa, M. Nishimura, and the Hokkaido COPD Cohort Study Group Characterisation of phenotypes based on severity of emphysema in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Thorax, November 1, 2007; 62(11): 932 - 937. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]