Prognostic value of the PROFUND index in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after exacerbation

To evaluate the prognostic value of the PROFUND index for predicting all-cause mortality during hospitalization or within three months after discharge in patients hospitalized due to COPD exacerbation, as well as predicting readmissions within three months.

An observational, retrospective, single-center study that included all patients hospitalized between January and December 2022 due to COPD exacerbation.

The analysis included 172 patients. Half of the patients (50.6%) were multimorbid. These patients were older, had greater baseline dyspnea, a higher degree of obstruction, greater dependency for basic daily living activities, a higher PROFUND index, and were at higher risk of readmission within three months and in-hospital mortality (P<.05). There was a 35.98% readmission rate within three months, mostly due to a new COPD exacerbation (86%), an in-hospital mortality rate of 3.4%, and a three-month mortality rate of 5.2%. A high PROFUND index (≥7) was significantly associated with increased mortality during hospitalization or within the first 3 months after discharge (OR: 33; 95% CI: 3.9-273.4; P=.001) and a higher risk of hospital readmission for any cause (OR: 4.91; 95% CI: 1.99-12.13; P=.0003). The variables most influencing mortality were severe dyspnea, anemia, confusional syndrome, and functional impairment (Barthel index <60).

The PROFUND index could be a good predictor of mortality and readmission risk in patients hospitalized due to a COPD exacerbation.