Predictors of Readmission in a Period of 30 Days or Less in Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a highly prevalent disease worldwide; acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a clinical condition characterized by a worsening of the patient's respiratory signs and symptoms, reducing the overall life expectancy. Readmission in a period of 30 days or less after discharge represents a new emerging clinical condition. In COPD patients, the rate of a 30-day readmission is reported to be approximately 20%; high rates of readmission may result from patients' complexity or from the complexity of the hospital system. Because a 30-day readmission has both clinical and economic impact, there is considerable interest in searching for factors that can predict readmission of COPD patients. In this paper, we describe the most important risk factors linked to readmission in a period of 30 days or less after discharge, and their role in the context of problems relating to readmission, in COPD patients primarily hospitalized for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. ©