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Mortality of COVID-19 is associated with comorbidity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Niklas Andreen1,2, Lars-Magnus Andersson1,2, Nicklas Sundell1,2
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Insights
Hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) faced worse outcomes and higher 30-day mortality from COVID-19 compared to those without COPD. Cardiovascular disease significantly increased mortality risk in COPD patients.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- COVID-19 poses significant risks to hospitalized patients.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent comorbidity that may affect COVID-19 outcomes.
- Understanding the impact of COPD on COVID-19 severity is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients with and without COPD.
- To identify risk factors associated with mortality in COPD patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 63 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with COPD.
- Matching with 63 hospitalized COVID-19 patients without COPD based on age, gender, and admission month.
- Univariate analysis to assess factors associated with 30-day mortality.
Main Results:
- COPD patients exhibited a higher prevalence of comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular disease.
- A trend towards increased 30-day mortality was observed in the COPD group (35% vs. 22%).
- High Charlson comorbidity index and prior cerebrovascular disease were linked to 30-day mortality in COPD patients.
Conclusions:
- Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with COPD experience more severe disease and higher mortality rates within 30 days.
- Comorbidities, especially cardiovascular diseases, are significant predictors of mortality in this population.
- Maintenance therapy with inhaled corticosteroids did not demonstrate a protective effect on mortality.
Background:
The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in hospitalised patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with the outcome in matched COVID-19 patients without COPD.
Methods:
Sixty-three COPD patients hospitalised for acute COVID-19 from March through August 2020 were retrospectively identified and 63 hospitalised COVID-19 patients without COPD were selected and matched for age, gender and month of hospital admission.
Results:
COPD patients had a higher rate of comorbidities, especially cardiovascular disease, and a trend towards a higher 30-day mortality than control patients (35% vs. 22%). In the COPD group, high Charlson comorbidity index (p = 0.03) and previous cerebrovascular disease (p = 0.04) were associated with 30-day mortality in univariate analysis. Inhaled corticosteroids maintenance therapy was not associated with lower mortality.
Conclusion:
COPD patients hospitalised for acute COVID-19 disease had significantly more comorbidities and a high risk of severe outcome and death within 30 days. Comorbidity, especially cardiovascular diseases, was associated with mortality among COPD patients.
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