The clinical journey of patients with a severe exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): from the ambulance to the emergency department to the hospital ward

BACKGROUND: Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are acute complications that often require emergency management by ambulance, emergency department (ED) and hospital services. Given the high mortality and morbidity of exacerbations, better understanding of the epidemiology of patients with COPD presenting to EDs is needed, as well as identification of predictive factors for adverse outcomes from exacerbations. METHODS: This retrospective observational study involved patients who presented to an ED in the state of Queensland and received either an ED or hospital diagnosis of COPD in 2015 and 2016. Administrative data from ambulance, ED, hospital and death registry databases were linked to provide a comprehensive picture of the emergency healthcare pathway for these patients. RESULTS: A total of 16,166 patients (49% female, 51% male) had 29,332 presentations to an ED in Queensland and received either an ED or hospital principal diagnosis of COPD during 2015 and 2016. These patients had a significant comorbidity burden with 54% having two or more comorbidities. Sixty-nine percent of ED presentations involved ambulance transport, and most of these (74%) involved administration of oxygen therapy and/or other medications by paramedics. Prehospital oxygen administration and ≥10 comorbidities were associated with >1 admission [odds ratio (OR) 1.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–1.5; OR 4.3, 95% CI: 3.1–5.8, respectively], greater than average lengths of stay (OR 1.5, 95% CI: 1.3–1.6; OR 22.1, 95% CI: 18.1–27.2) and mortality (OR 1.6, 95% CI: 1.5–1.8; OR 5.3, 95% CI: 4.2–6.8). Of the ambulance presentations, 90% were admitted or received ongoing care. CONCLUSIONS: COPD places considerable burden on the emergency healthcare pathway including ambulances and EDs in Queensland. Patients with COPD most commonly present to the ED by ambulance and receive extensive pre-hospital management. These patients have significant comorbidity burden and experience high rates of admission and mortality. More research is required to investigate the emergency pathway to further identify reversible factors and enhance healthcare practice and policy for COPD management.