Relationship between emergency admission and exercise capacity in patients with COPD

Abstract

Aim: In this study we aimed to compare exercise capacity in COPD patients who were admitted to emergency departments at least one time in last year or were not. Secondly we investigated the relationship between emergency admission rate and exercise capacity in COPD patients who were admitted to emergency departments

Method: Patients who were admitted to pulmonary rehabilitation unit included in this study. Demographic features and emergency admissions in the last year were recorded. Six minute walk test, Modify Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, body plethysmography and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity test and blood gases analysis were performed.

Results: A total of 206 COPD patients included in our study. 127 of them had at least one emergency admission due to copd exacerbation. Age and disease duration were significantly higher in patients who had emergency admission(p=0.032, p=0.004). Also exercise capacity, sensation of dyspnea, lung function tests and oxygenation were significantly worse in this group (p<0.05). Body mass index and cigarette consumptions were similar in the groups.

In correlation analysis that performed in patients who had emergency admission we found that emergency admission rate was significantly correlated with exercise capacity, sensation of dyspnea, disease duration, oxygenation and values of FEV1%, FEV1/FVC%, and TLCO% (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Exercise capacity were lower in COPD patients who had at least one emergency admission in one year. Moreover reduction in exercise capacity were correlated with emergency admission rate positively. According to these results we think that exercise training may contribute to decrease emergency admission rates in COPD patients.