Resources and Readmission for COPD Exacerbation in Pneumology Units in Spain: The COPD Observatory Project

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents one of the most frequent causes of hospital readmissions and in-hospital mortality. One in five patients requires readmission within 30 days of discharge following an admission for exacerbation. These ‘early readmissions’ increase morbidity and mortality, as patients often do not recover their baseline lung function. The identification of factors associated with increased risk has been a major focus of research in recent years. Studies describe patient-related predictors, although some studies also suggest that better-resourced centres provide superior care. Objective: To describe resources, performance, and care provided in pneumology units in Spain, assessing their association with 30-day readmission for COPD and in-hospital mortality. Methods: This survey was conducted in 116 hospitals responsible for the COPD pathway in pneumology units/departments from November 2022 to March 2023. Results: Of the 116 participating hospitals, 56% had a pneumology department while 25.9% had a pneumology section. The vast majority were public and university hospitals. The number of beds allocated to pneumology/100,000 inhabitants was 6.6 (3.1–9.2) and pulmonologist staffing was 3.3 (2.6–4.1) per 100,000 inhabitants. There was an intermediate respiratory care unit (IMCU) dependent on the pneumology department in 31.9% of units and a respiratory team for 24 h emergency care in 30% of units, while only 9.5% had interventional pneumology units for bronchoscopic procedures. COPD rehabilitation programmes were offered in 58.6% of pneumology units. The average rate of patients on ventilatory support in acute failure was 13.8 (9.2–25) per 100 discharges, with a 30-day COPD readmission rate of 14.9%, with significant differences according to the level of complexity (p = 0.041), with a mean length of stay of 8.72 (1.26) days. The overall in-hospital mortality in pneumology units was 4.10 (1.18) per 100 admissions. In the adjusted model, having a discharge support programme and interventions performed during admission (number of patients with ventilatory support) were predictors of a favourable outcome. Hospital stay was also maintained as a predictor of an unfavourable outcome. Conclusions: There is significant variability in resources and the organisation of care in pneumology units in Spain. The availability of a discharge support programme and greater use of ventilatory support at discharge are factors associated with a lower 30-day COPD readmission rate in the pneumology unit. This information is relevant to improve the care of patients with COPD and as a future line of research.