Glucocorticoid Use in Patients Hospitalized with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations

Abstract

Songsong Yu,1 Shuang Li,2 Jie Zhang,3 Qiuhong Fang4 1Department of Emergency, Emergency and Critical Care Medical Center, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Health Management Institute, NO.2 Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qiuhong Fang, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Gong Ti Nan Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected] of the Study: Systemic glucocorticoid therapy can improve the outcomes of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The study tried to investigate the use of glucocorticoids in AECOPD patients and the factors associated with the physicians’ choice.Methodology: Patients with AECOPD over two periods were divided by the year of 2017 when GOLD and ERS/ATS Guideline for COPD were updated. Data of patients regarding the study was retrieved from medical records. Descriptive statistical analysis was used for the illustration of glucocorticoids use, and hypothesis testing for comparison over the periods.Results: Between 2010 and 2016, the proportion of ICS use was 522/640 (81.6%) and 341/452 (75.4%) between 2017 and 2020. COPD severity (GOLD C/D classification), bronchial asthma, percentage of neutrophils, and higher PaCO2 were factors associated with physicians’ prescription of systemic glucocorticoids between 2010 and 2016. While the use of ICS at the stable stage, counts of neutrophils, and higher PaCO2 were influencing factors between 2017 and 2020. Over the two periods, 1-year recurrent rate decreased from 32.4% to 20.9%, with a significant statistical difference (P< 0.001).Conclusion: The optimized use of glucocorticoids was found after the publishment of 2017 ERS/ATS Guideline for COPD, this improvement was associated with a decreased 1-year recurrence rate among AECOPD patients at our institution, underscoring the positive impact of guideline updates on patient outcomes.Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute exacerbation, glucocorticoids, treatment selection

Keywords

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• acute exacerbation
• glucocorticoids
• treatment selection