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Correlation of frequency of exacerbations with the BODE index in COPD patients
Vladimir A Hodgev1, Stephan S Kostianev, Blagoi A Marinov
1Clinic of Pulmonology, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Background:
In recent research B. Celli et al. (N Engl J Med 2004;350:1005-12) proposed a complex grading system (which they designated by BODE) for predicting the mortality risk in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Objective:
The aim of the study was to compare the BODE index in COPD patients with frequent exacerbations and in those with infrequent exacerbations.
Patients And Methods:
A 1-year retrospective study was performed in 76 patients with COPD of mean (Sx) age of 59.1 (8.6) years, forced expiratory volume in 1 second % predicted (FEV1%) = 35 (13)%. Exacerbations were ascertained retrospectively by patient interview and from records of treatment such as healthcare databases; the effect of frequent or infrequent exacerbations (> or < 2.3 per year) on the BODE index was examined.
Results:
A total of 178 exacerbations were recorded. Exacerbation frequency was correlated significantly to BODE index (r = 0.36; P = 0.002). There was a statistically significant difference in the BODE index score (5.6 +/- 2.5 vs 4.1 +/- 1.5; P = 0.002) between the frequent and infrequent exacerbators.
Conclusion:
COPD patients who experienced frequent exacerbations in a previous year have significantly higher BODE score than those who experience infrequent exacerbations.
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