Routine in-hospital interventions during acute exacerbation of COPD are associated with improved 30-day care.

Background: Implementing standard of care therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has barriers. Hospitalization with an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) is a major adverse event that could also be an opportunity to improve patients' long-term care.

Objectives: To evaluate which in-hospital interventions during AECOPD are associated with improved 30-day care.

Methods: This was a prospective study that included patients from 10 medical centers across Israel, hospitalized with AECOPD between 2017 and 2019. Patients were approached during hospitalization in internal medicine departments. A semi-structured follow-up call was performed 30 days after discharge, and six COPD areas of care were assessed. Multivariate analyses were used to analyze predictors for each area of care.

Results: 234 patients were included (mean age 69 years and 34% females). A lower 30-day readmission rate was independently associated with smoking cessation and prescription of renin-angiotensin blockers. Initiating or continuing long acting bronchodilators (LABD) during admission was an independent predictor for their 30-day use. Among patients with prior LABD treatment, only 38% continued at 30-days if it was not prescribed during admission (OR 4, 95% CI 1.98-8.08, p<0.01). In-hospital daily respiratory physiotherapy was an independent predictor for smoking cessation (AOR 5.1, 95% CI 1.1-23, p=0.04), while smoking cessation recommendation was not (p=0.28). Initiating a smoking cessation program (5%) or pulmonary rehabilitation (1%) after discharge was performed only by patients with a written referral.

Conclusion: Routine procedures during hospitalization for AECOPD could impact patients' long-term care in areas with proven effects on disease outcomes.