TY - JOUR T1 - Difficulty in management of COPD exacerbation: Is this chronic exacerbation or difficult COPD: "A specific phenotype?" JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 42 IS - Suppl 57 SP - P2168 AU - Baha AU - Kokturk Y1 - 2013/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P2168.abstract N2 - This pilot study was taken to evaluate the risk factors of patients with severe uncontrollable COPD exacerbations despite maximum pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions.8 female and 22 male (73.3%) patients with a mean age of 68.83±10 were included in the study. Patients assigned into 3 groups. Group 1 which consisted of patients with severe exacerbation who had prolonged hospitalization was described as chronic exacerbators, group 2 was consisted of frequent exacerbators but not chronic exacerbators and group 3 was consisted of nonfrequent exacerbators. All patients were GOLD spirometric stage 3-4 (mean FEV1 30.4%).The percentage of non adherent patients to treatment was 20%, 50%, 10% in group 1, 2 and 3, respectfully. There was more bacterial colonization (80%), constipation (80%), fungal infection (60%), osteoporosis (70%), subclinic hypertiroidi (70%), endobronchial lesion (20%) and heavy smoking history (83.75 pack/year) present in group 1 (p<0.05) than group 2 and 3. The exacerbation rate in the last year was higher in group 2. The median hospitalization duration in 1 35,3 days, 18.5 days and 10 days in group 1, 2,3, respectfully.Theses preliminary results showed that there is a subgroup of patiens who had severe prolonged exacerbations with several risk factors independent of spirometric severity and exacerbation frequency. Further attempt must be taken for better description. ER -