Abstract
Background: The decline in health and cognitive status during AECOPD is well documented, but less is known about the recovery following hospital discharge.
Aims: To explore the recovery of physical and psychological outcomes following discharge after hospitalisation for AECOPD.
Methods: During hospital stay and at 6 weeks post-discharge, patients were evaluated for cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), with cognitive impairment defined as <26/30), psychological well-being (HADS), COPD symptoms (CAT and CRQ) and physical function (Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)). Data were analysed using paired t-tests and Pearson’s r.
Results: 28 patients (mean±SD, age 67±9yrs, 16 male) were recruited. At 6 weeks, a significant improvement was seen in depression, anxiety, COPD symptoms and physical function (Fig). There was no improvement in cognition when compared to baseline and overall, patients showed mild cognitive impairment at both time points (MoCA: 24.0±3.8 vs 23.25±3.7, p=0.21; Fig). Over the 6 weeks, Δcognition significantly correlated with Δhealth status (CAT: r=0.46, p<0.05) and Δbreathlessness (CRQ-Dyspnoea: r=0.40, p<0.05).
Conclusions: Patients who reported worsening COPD symptoms 6 weeks from discharge also demonstrated greater cognitive decline over this period. Cognition did not improve post-hospitalisation despite improvements in symptoms, physical function and health status over 6 weeks.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 3291.
This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.
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 2020