RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Late-breaking abstract: Baseline factors and survival difference between normocapnia, compensated respiratory acidosis and decompensated respiratory acidosis in COPD exacerbation JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 1934 VO 44 IS Suppl 58 A1 Chung-tat Lun A1 Miranda SN Tsui A1 Suet-lai Cheng A1 Pik-shan Cheung A1 Veronica L Chan A1 Wah-shing Leung A1 Chung-ming Chu YR 2014 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/1934.abstract AB BackgroundPatients experiencing acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AE-COPD) with decompensated respiratory acidosis are known to have poor outcomes in terms of recurrent respiratory failure and death. The outcomes of AE-COPD patients with compensated respiratory acidosis are not known.Methods and ObjectiveWe performed a prospective, single-centre, cohort study in patients with AE-COPD for one year, to compare baseline factors between groups with normocapnia, compensated respiratory acidosis and decompensated respiratory acidosis. Survival analysis was done to examine time to readmissions, life-threatening events and death.ResultsCompared with normocapnia, both compensated and decompensated respiratory acidosis are associated with lower FEV1 % , higher GOLD stage and higher BODE index and they have shorter time to life-threatening events (fig1). Comparing compensated and decompensated respiratory acidosis, there was no difference in FEV1 (% predicted), GOLD stage, BODE index, and time to life-threatening events.PaCO2 and previous use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in acute setting are predictive factors of future life-threatening events by multivariate analysis.ConclusionsComparing with normocapnia, both compensated and decompensated respiratory are associated with poorer lung function and at high risk of future life-threatening events. PaCO2 and past history of NIV use in acute settings were predictive factors for future life-threatening events. Compensated respiratory acidosis warrants special attention and optimisation of medical therapy as it poses risk of life-threatening events.