Understanding recovery from severe exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

What is it about?

We recruited patients admitted to hospital with an exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and monitored them daily at home for thirty days following hospital discharge. We measured a range of subjective and objective metrics, including re-exacerbation frequency, re-hospitalisations, COPD symptoms, health-related quality of life, peripheral oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, spirometry, neural respiratory drive (measured with parasternal electromyography) and physical activity. This study has provided us with a detailed understanding of the clinical and physiological changes that occur during recovery from severe exacerbations of COPD, which could be used to support identification and early intervention of respiratory deterioration in the post-discharge period.

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Why is it important?

Severe exacerbations of COPD are common and one quarter of patients are readmitted within 30 days of hospital discharge. This imposes substantial burdens to both patients and healthcare services worldwide. Despite this, recovery from exacerbations are poorly described in current literature. We have obtained novel daily data on clinical and physiological parameters from patients' homes in order to understand in detail the trajectory of recovery from severe COPD exacerbations. Our report detailing improvements in patient-reported outcomes and physiological parameters may be used to aid recognition and early intervention for respiratory deterioration following severe exacerbations of COPD.

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