PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Erik D. Liaaen AU - Anne H. Henriksen AU - Nikolai Stenfors TI - Predictors of long-term mortality after hospitalization for COPD; A Scandinavian multicentre study DP - 2014 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - P2979 VI - 44 IP - Suppl 58 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P2979.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P2979.full SO - Eur Respir J2014 Sep 01; 44 AB - Background: The prognosis of patients hospitalized with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is poor, both in the short and long terms, but the prognosis differs across countries and regions. Several risk factors for mortality have been identified. In many countries, smoking prevalence is now rapidly declining, standards of care for patients with COPD have improved, and decreasing hospitalization rates have been detected. In times of changing epidemiology regarding patients hospitalized for COPD, we wanted to examine the long-term mortality after hospitalization for COPD in Scandinavia.Methods: This work involved a cohort study of 716 patients hospitalized for COPD in 2005 at three Scandinavian hospitals. Long-term mortality was examined, and predictors for mortality were examined with univariate and multivariate analyses.Results: A total of 686 patients were discharged alive. 424 (62%) of the patients died during follow-up. Median survival time was 44.4 months (95% CI 39.2, 49.6). The 2-year mortality was 33%, and 4-year mortality was 52%. Age, previous hospitalizations for COPD, long-term oxygen therapy, heart failure, and thoracic malignancy were significant independent predictors of mortality in a multivariate analysis.Conclusion: Long-term mortality after hospitalization for COPD is high, and older patients with severe COPD, frequent previous hospitalizations, concurrent heart failure, or thoracic malignancy are at particular risk. Patients hospitalized for COPD should have thorough assessment of their treatment and comorbidities to optimize further care.