Impact of Comorbid Ischemic Heart Disease on Short-Term Outcomes of Patients Hospitalized for Acute Exacerbations of COPD

BACKGROUND: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with COPD. The contribution of IHD to acute outcomes in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) is not known in detail. The present study assessed the effect of comorbid IHD on length of stay (LOS), risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death as indicators of the short-term outcomes for patients hospitalized for AECOPD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of patients hospitalized for AECOPD from September 2008 to March 2014 were reviewed. Data extracted from patient records regarding the presence of comorbidities and the markers of disease severity were analyzed using logistic regression for ICU admission and mortality, the Kaplan-Meier method, log rank test and Cox regression for LOS. RESULTS: Of 507 separate admissions, 146 episodes (28.8%) occurred in patients with IHD. The median LOS was 7 days [interquartile range (IQR) 6, 11] in patients with IHD versus 6 days (IQR 5, 8) for patients without IHD. After adjustment for confounders, LOS was found to be 26% longer (p=0.033) for patients with IHD. The adjusted odds ratio for the risk of ICU admission and death in patients with IHD was 2.97 and 3.86, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients hospitalized for AECOPD with comorbid IHD had longer LOS, greater risk for ICU admission and death. It seems that this group is a particular COPD subtype with a more severe degree of COPD and poorer acute outcomes that may influence optimal management.