Abstract
Background: In 2009, Dept of Pulmonary Medicine and Depts of Physiotherapy and Ergotherapy, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen have carried out the pilote study “KOL-hjem-igen” (COPD-home-again)
There are no official Danish data concerning smoking status or smoking history of COPD-patients, whom have been hospitalized due to an exacerbation
Methods: In a prospective uncontrolled pilot-study we included patients discharged after an exacerbation of COPD 1.1.2009 to 31.12.2009 in COPD-home-again. This consists of open telephone line, home visits by a COPD nurse 5-7 days and 6 months after discharge, individual self-care plan, rehabilitation by physiotherapist and ergotherapist during admission including self-training plan and visitation to rehabilitation.
All patients admitted with exacerbation of COPD were registered as for smoking status and -history. If still smoking at discharcge, the patients were offered smoking cessation assistance as a golden standard.
Results: 154 patients were included. Smoking data were registered on 126. 28 had died or were excluded. At inclusion 26 (20.6%) were smokers, 91 (72.3%) were ex smokers and 9 (7.1%) had never smoked. The average history of smoking was 38 package-years.
At 6 month follow up of 94 patients 22 (25%) were still smoking.
Mortality in still, former and never smokers were 22.7, 23.5 and 11% respectively.
Conclusions: Every fourth patient, that has been hospitalized due to an exacerbation still smokes six months after discharge. Interestingly, smoking status after exacerbation seems not to influence on mortality.
This is opposed to known data. Though, the study population is too small to make such conclusions.
- © 2011 ERS