Abstract
Background: The global burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing and those with COPD are at higher risk for all-cause mortality. We aimed to evaluate the impact of COPD on specific-cause of mortality using national data.
Methods: This is a nationwide retrospective cohort study of 326,125 adults aged 40–84 years old who lacked COPD diagnosis at baseline, between January 1st, 2003 and December 31st, 2013. Incident COPD was defined by reference to COPD claims codes and prescription of COPD medication at least twice annually. Cox proportional hazard ratio (HR) for each cause of death in the COPD group were compared to those of the non-COPD group, with other causes of death accounted as the competing risk.
Results: All-cause mortality was higher in the COPD (2,781 per 100,000 person-years) than the non-COPD group (607 per 100,000 person-years) and adjusted HR was 1.44 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.35, 1.54). The association was particularly strong for chronic lower airway disease (adjusted subhazard ratios = 10.04; 95% CI = 7.47, 13.51) and lung cancer (adjusted subhazard ratio = 3.25; 95% CI = 2.76, 3.83), and the association was stronger in those aged < 60 years.
Conclusion: In this large national cohort, COPD patients were at significantly higher risk for all-cause mortality than those without COPD. They were more likely to die from chronic lower airway disease, lung cancer, and pneumonia than subjects without COPD. The impact of COPD on specific mortalities was stronger in younger and healthier subjects.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2019; 54: Suppl. 63, OA506.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2019