PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - G. Gudmundsson
AU  - T. Gislason
AU  - C. Janson
AU  - E. Lindberg
AU  - R. Hallin
AU  - C. S. Ulrik
AU  - E. Brøndum
AU  - M. M. Nieminen
AU  - T. Aine
AU  - P. Bakke
TI  - Risk factors for rehospitalisation in COPD: role of health status, anxiety and depression
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.05.00078504
DP  - 2005 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 414--419
VI  - 26
IP  - 3
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/26/3/414.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/26/3/414.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2005 Sep 01; 26
AB  - The aim of the present study was to analyse the risk of rehospitalisation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and associated risk factors. This prospective study included 416 patients from a university hospital in each of the five Nordic countries. Data included demographic information, spirometry, comorbidity and 12 month follow-up for 406 patients. The hospital anxiety and depression scale and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were applied to all patients. The number of patients that had a re-admission within 12 months was 246 (60.6%). Patients that had a re-admission had lower lung function and health status. A low forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and health status were independent predictors for re-admission. Hazard ratio (HR; 95% CI) was 0.82 (0.74–0.90) per 10% increase of the predicted FEV1 and 1.06 (1.02–1.10) per 4 units increase in total SGRQ score. The risk of rehospitalisation was also increased in subjects with anxiety (HR 1.76 (1.16–2.68)) and in subjects with low health status (total SGRQ score >60 units). When comparing the different subscales in the SGRQ, the closest relation between the risk of rehospitalisation was seen with the activity scale (HR 1.07 (1.03–1.11) per 4 unit increase). In patients with low health status, anxiety is an important risk factor for rehospitalisation. This may be important for patient treatment and warrants further studies.