COPD Readmissions: Addressing COPD in the Era of Value-based Health Care

Outcomes of a Pharmacy-Driven Inpatient Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Transitions of Care (TOC) Management Process

Background: Current data shows 30% of patients hospitalized for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbation are readmitted within 30 days. Medication management during transitions of care (TOC) has shown impact on clinical outcomes, however there is insufficient data to suggest how pharmacy TOC services might benefit this patient population. Objective: Evaluate the effects of pharmacy-driven COPD TOC services on hospital re-presentation rates. Methods: A single-center retrospective chart review conducted of patients hospitalized for a COPD exacerbation. A comprehensive admission-to-discharge TOC service was provided by early immersion pharmacy students, advanced immersion pharmacy students, and an attending pharmacist in a layered learning model. The primary outcome was 30-day re-presentation rate. Secondary outcomes were 90-day re-presentation rate, volume of interventions made and description of the service. Results: From 1/1/2019 to 12/31/2019, there were 2422 patients admitted for COPD exacerbation management and 756 patients received at least one intervention from the COPD TOC service. 30% needed a change to inhaler therapy. The provider accepted 57.8% of the recommended changes, and 36% and 33% of eligible patients received an inhaler technique education and bedside delivery of the new inhaler, respectively. Outcomes in the 30-day re-presentation and 90-day censored re-presentation rates for the intervention and control group were 28.5% vs 25.5% (P = .12) and 46.7% vs 42.9%, respectively. Conclusion: This study did not find a significant change in 30-day re-presentation rate with a pharmacy-driven COPD TOC service. It did find that a significant number of patients admitted with COPD exacerbation may need an inhaler change, and demonstrates the utility of this kind of TOC service for identifying and correcting medication-related problems unique to this disease state. There were opportunities for improvement in percent of patients receiving the full intended intervention.

Review of the Evidence for Pulmonary Rehabilitation in COPD: Clinical Benefits and Cost-Effectiveness

COPD is a common and lethal chronic condition, recognized as a leading cause of death worldwide. COPD is associated with significant morbidity and disability, particularly among older adults. The disease course is marked by periods of stability and disease exacerbations defined by worsening respiratory status resulting in a high burden of health care utilization and an increased risk of mortality. Treatment is focused on pharmacologic therapies, but these are not completely effective. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) represents a key medical intervention for patients with chronic respiratory diseases, including COPD. PR provides individualized and progressive exercise training, education, and self-management strategies through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary program. PR has been associated with improvement in exercise capacity, health-related quality of life, and dyspnea in patients living with COPD. Moreover, PR has been associated with improvements in hospital readmission and 1-y survival. In addition to the clinical benefits, PR is estimated to be a cost-effective medical intervention. Despite these benefits, participation in PR remains low. We will review the evidence for PR in each of these benefit domains among patients with stable COPD and in those recovering from a COPD exacerbation.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Reimbursement Challenges

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a highly effective intervention for persons with chronic respiratory diseases, resulting in improvement in exercise capacity, dyspnea, health-related quality of life, mood, reduced hospitalization, and improved survival and cost savings post-COPD hospitalization. Despite demonstrated effectiveness, PR is underutilized in part due to lack of awareness, limited access, and inadequate PR reimbursement. Poor payment is a long-standing barrier to PR's financial stability and access. Addressing PR payment, access, and utilization is a complex challenge and requires strategic, collaborative long-term approaches to meaningful solutions. Strategies to overcome payment disparities begin with legislative approaches to address limitations of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services coverage. Additional priorities include permanent approval for remote physician and advanced practice provider (APP) PR supervision, PR referrals by APPs, telerehabilitation using two-way audio/video technology, and elimination of the PR lifetime maximum limit of 72 h or units/patient. Methods are needed to effectively link appropriate PR prescribing and encouragement with primary care providers, hospitalists, case managers, and hospital navigators to optimize PR referrals. There is an important need to address inadequate PR access in rural settings. Potential opportunities to improve PR referrals and access include exploration of PR synergies with value-based care models that emphasize high-quality care and cost savings. Development and use of effective PR provider tools and resources may help address the above challenges as well as financially benefit PR programs.

Residential greenness and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a large cohort in southern China: Potential causal links, risk trajectories, and mediation pathways

INTRODUCTION

Residential greenness may influence COPD mortality, but the causal links, risk trajectories, and mediation pathways between them remain poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES

We aim to comprehensively identify the potential causal links, characterize the dynamic progression of hospitalization or posthospital risk, and quantify mediation effects between greenness and COPD.

METHODS

This study was conducted using a community-based cohort enrolling individuals aged ≥ 18 years in southern China from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2015. Greenness was characterized by normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) around participants' residential addresses. We applied doubly robust Cox proportional hazards model, multi-state model, and multiple mediation method, to investigate the potential causal links, risk trajectories among baseline, COPD hospitalization, first readmission due to COPD or COPD-related complications, and all-cause death, as well as the multiple mediation pathways (particulate matter [PM], temperature, body mass index [BMI] and physical activity) connecting greenness exposure to COPD mortality.

RESULTS

Our final analysis included 581,785 participants (52.52% female; average age: 48.36 [Standard Deviation (SD): 17.56]). Each interquartile range (IQR: 0.06) increase in NDVI was associated with a reduced COPD mortality risk, yielding a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.88 (95 % CI: 0.81, 0.96). Furthermore, we observed per IQR (0.04) increase in NDVI was inversely associated with the risk of multiple transitions (baseline - COPD hospitalization, baseline - death, and readmission - death risks), especially a declined risk of all-cause death after readmission (HR = 0.66 [95 %CI: 0.44, 0.99]). Within the observed association between greenness and COPD mortality, three mediators were identified, namely PM, temperature, and BMI (HR for the total indirect effect: 0.773 [95 % CI: 0.703, 0.851]), with PM showing the highest mediating effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings revealed greenness may be a beneficial factor for COPD morbidity, prognosis, and mortality. This protective effect is primarily attributed to the reduction in PM concentration.

Nursing diagnoses and hospital readmission of patients with respiratory diseases: Findings from a case-control study

AIM

The rate of readmission after hospitalisation for respiratory diseases has become a common and challenging clinical problem. Social and functional patient variables could help identify cases at high risk of readmission. The aim was to identify the nursing diagnoses that were associated with readmission after hospitalisation for respiratory disease in Spain.

DESIGN

Case-control study within the cohort of patients admitted for respiratory disease during 2016-19 in a tertiary public hospital in Spain (n = 3781).

METHODS

Cases were patients who were readmitted within the first 30 days of discharge, and their controls were the remaining patients. All nursing diagnoses (n = 130) were collected from the electronic health record. They were then grouped into 29 informative diagnostic categories. Clinical confounder-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The readmission rate was 13.1%. The nursing diagnoses categories 'knowledge deficit' (OR: 1.61; 95%CI: 1.13-2.31), 'impaired skin integrity and risk of ulcer infection' (OR: 1.45; 95%CI: 1.06-1.97) and 'activity intolerance associated with fatigue' (OR: 1.56; 95%CI: 1.21-2.01) were associated with an increased risk of suffering an episode of hospital readmission rate at 30% after hospital discharge, and this was independent of sociodemographic background, care variables and comorbidity.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

The nursing diagnoses assigned as part of the care plan of patients during hospital admission may be useful for predicting readmissions.

Rationale and Design of Healthy at Home for COPD: an Integrated Remote Patient Monitoring and Virtual Pulmonary Rehabilitation Pilot Study

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common, costly, and morbid condition. Pulmonary rehabilitation, close monitoring, and early intervention during acute exacerbations of symptoms represent a comprehensive approach to improve outcomes, but the optimal means of delivering these services is uncertain. Logistical, financial, and social barriers to providing healthcare through face-to-face encounters, paired with recent developments in technology, have stimulated interest in exploring alternative models of care. The Healthy at Home study seeks to determine the feasibility of a multimodal, digitally enhanced intervention provided to participants with COPD longitudinally over six months. This paper details the recruitment, methods, and analysis plan for the study, which is recruiting 100 participants in its pilot phase. Participants were provided with several integrated services including a smartwatch to track physiological data, a study app to track symptoms and study instruments, access to a mobile integrated health program for acute clinical needs, and a virtual comprehensive pulmonary support service. Participants shared physiologic, demographic, and symptom reports, electronic health records, and claims data with the study team, facilitating a better understanding of their symptoms and potential care needs longitudinally. The Healthy at Home study seeks to develop a comprehensive digital phenotype of COPD by tracking and responding to multiple indices of disease behavior and facilitating early and nuanced responses to changes in participants' health status. This study is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06000696).

Risk Factors for Hospital Readmission in Patients With Interstitial Lung Disease

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the rates, causes, or risk factors for hospital readmission among patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). We investigated the prevalence, features, and comorbidities of subjects hospitalized with ILD and their subsequent re-hospitalizations in this retrospective study.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of subjects enrolled in the University of Chicago ILD Natural History registry was conducted. Demographic data, comorbidities, and timing and cause of subsequent hospitalizations were collected from the medical record. The primary outcome was time to first readmission via a cause-specific Cox hazards model with a sensitivity analysis with the Fine-Gray cumulative hazard model; the secondary outcome was the number of hospitalizations per subject via a Poisson multivariable model.

RESULTS

Among 1,796 patients with ILD, 443 subjects were hospitalized, with 978 total hospitalizations; 535 readmissions were studied, 282 (53%) for a respiratory indication. For the outcome of time to readmission, Black race was the only subject characteristic associated with an increased hazard of readmission in the Cox model (hazard ratio 1.50, P = .03) while Black race, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and sarcoidosis were associated with increased hazard of readmission in the Fine-Gray model. Black race, female sex, atrial fibrillation, obstructive lung disease, and pulmonary hypertension were associated with an increased number of hospitalizations in the Poisson model.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that hospital readmission from any cause was a common occurrence in subjects with ILD. Further efforts to improve quality of life among these subjects could focus on risk scores for readmission, mitigating racial health disparities, and treatment of comorbidities.

The impact on thirty day readmissions for patients hospitalized for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admitted to an observation unit versus an inpatient medical unit: A retrospective observational study

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate the utility of an Observation Unit (OU) in management of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and to identify the clinical characteristics of patients readmitted within 30-days for AECOPD following index admission to the OU or inpatient floor from the OU.

METHODS

This is a retrospective observational study of patients admitted from January to December 2017 for AECOPD to an OU in an urban-based tertiary care hospital. Primary outcome was rate of 30-day readmission after admission for AECOPD for patients discharged from the OU versus inpatient service after failing OU management. Regression analyses were used to define risk factors.

RESULTS

163 OU encounters from 92 unique patients were included. There was a lower readmission rate (33%) for patients converted from OU to inpatient care versus patients readmitted after direct discharge from the OU (44%). Patients with 30-day readmissions were more likely to be undomiciled, with history of congestive heart failure (CHF), pulmonary embolism (PE), or had previous admissions for AECOPD. Patients with >6 annual OU visits for AECOPD had higher rates of substance abuse, psychiatric diagnosis, and prior PE; when these patients were excluded, the 30-day readmission rate decreased to 13.5%.

CONCLUSION

Patients admitted for AECOPD with a history of PE, CHF, prior AECOPD admissions, and socioeconomic deprivation are at higher risk of readmission and should be prioritized for direct inpatient admission. Further prospective studies should be conducted to determine the clinical impact of this approach on readmission rates.

Trend Analysis of Palliative Care Utilization in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease During Hospitalization from 2007 to 2018 in Taiwan

Purpose

Palliative care utilization among hospitalized patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Taiwan remains low despite its costs making it eligible for reimbursement since 2009. Few studies have examined the trends of palliative care utilization. We analyzed the annual rate, associated factors, and timing of the inpatient palliative care utilization by hospitalized patients with COPD.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional observational study between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2018. Population-based claims data were extracted from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to identify patients aged ≧40 years with COPD five years before the first instance of inpatient palliative care utilization.

Results

There were 24,502 patients with COPD receiving inpatient palliative care. Our results indicated that older age, concomitant chronic conditions-especially cancer-and severity of comorbidities were associated with a higher rate of palliative care utilization by hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In our study, the proportion of hospitalized patients with COPD receiving inpatient palliative care and having a Charlson comorbidity index score of 1-2 was lower than that of patients with cancer and a Charlson comorbidity index score ≧3 during the 12-year study-observation period. In addition, approximately 50% of hospitalized patients with COPD received palliative care within 18 months after their initial admission for COPD during the study period. However, individuals with a CCI score of 1-2 exhibited a slower entry into palliative care, with nearly 50% initiating it within the first two years.

Conclusion

Inpatient palliative care utilization by hospitalized patients with advanced COPD remains low due to various causes. Our findings highlight that palliative care may be considered by professional care providers as routine care and as a way to manage problematic symptoms during hospitalization.

Pharmacist Review of Chronic Inhaler Therapy Appropriateness for Hospitalized Patients with COPD or Asthma

INTRODUCTION

Patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rely on inhaler therapy to reduce disease progression and exacerbation risk. Patients admitted to the hospital are at an increased risk for exacerbations and readmission if their inhaler therapy upon discharge is not aligned with current guidelines and/or affordable.

OBJECTIVE

Assess the appropriateness of the chronic inhaler regimen for patients admitted to the hospital based on clinical practice guidelines and insurance coverage.

METHODS

A sub-study was designed to analyze a cohort of a single-center, pragmatic, prospective randomized controlled trial at a large academic medical center. Patients admitted to a medicine service with a pharmacist and prescribed a long-acting inhaler were included. Participants randomized to a pharmacist-led intervention were assessed for inhaler appropriateness based on clinical guidelines and patient insurance. The objective of this sub-study is to assess the number of inhalers identified as inappropriate based on the pharmacist's review. A patient was considered to have an inappropriate inhaler regimen if any of their inhalers were inconsistent with guideline recommendations or not covered by insurance. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize appropriate inhaler use.

RESULTS

The study pharmacist reviewed 552 unique inhalers for 348 patients. Overall, 42% of inhalers were inappropriate, affecting 50.3% of participants. 20% of inhalers were inappropriate based on insurance, 26% were inappropriate based on guidelines, and 7% were inappropriate based on both criteria. Recommendations were placed via a pharmacy consult for 198 patients (57%), most recommending an inhaler initiation (55%), followed by inhaler discontinuation (38%).

CONCLUSION

A pharmacist-led review of chronic inhaler therapy for patients admitted to the hospital identified the need for a change in therapy based on financial or clinical guidelines in over half of the patients reviewed. Interventions to increase the appropriateness of prescribed inhalers are needed to reduce disease progression and disease exacerbation.

Effect of Chronic Disease Home Telehealth Monitoring in the Veterans Health Administration on Healthcare Utilization and Mortality

BACKGROUND

The high prevalence of chronic diseases, including congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and diabetes mellitus (DM), accounts for a large burden of cost and poor health outcomes in US hospitals, and home telehealth (HT) monitoring has been proposed to improve outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To measure the association between HT initiation and 12-month inpatient hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, and mortality in veterans with CHF, COPD, or DM.

DESIGN

Comparative effectiveness matched cohort study.

PATIENTS

Veterans aged 65 years and older treated for CHF, COPD, or DM.

MAIN MEASURES

We matched veterans initiating HT with veterans with similar demographics who did not use HT (1:3). Our outcome measures included a 12-month risk of inpatient hospitalization, ED visits, and all-cause mortality.

KEY RESULTS

A total of 139,790 veterans with CHF, 65,966 with COPD, and 192,633 with DM were included in this study. In the year after HT initiation, the risk of hospitalization was not different in those with CHF (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.01, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.98-1.05) or DM (aOR 1.00, 95%CI 0.97-1.03), but it was higher in those with COPD (aOR 1.15, 95%CI 1.09-1.21). The risk of ED visits was higher among HT users with CHF (aOR 1.09, 95%CI 1.05-1.13), COPD (1.24, 95%CI 1.18-1.31), and DM (aOR 1.03, 95%CI 1.00-1.06). All-cause 12-month mortality was lower in those initiating HT monitoring with CHF (aOR 0.70, 95%CI 0.67-0.73) and DM (aOR 0.79, 95%CI 0.75-0.83), but higher in COPD (aOR 1.08, 95%CI 1.00-1.16).

CONCLUSIONS

The initiation of HT was associated with increased ED visits, no change in hospitalizations, and lower all-cause mortality in patients with CHF or DM, while those with COPD had both higher healthcare utilization and all-cause mortality.

2023 Canadian Thoracic Society Guideline on Pharmacotherapy in Patients With Stable COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patient care must include confirming a diagnosis with postbronchodilator spirometry. Because of the clinical heterogeneity and the reality that airflow obstruction assessed by spirometry only partially reflects disease severity, a thorough clinical evaluation of the patient should include assessment of symptom burden and risk of exacerbations that permits the implementation of evidence-informed pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions. This guideline provides recommendations from a comprehensive systematic review with a meta-analysis and expert-informed clinical remarks to optimize maintenance pharmacologic therapy for individuals with stable COPD, and a revised and practical treatment pathway based on new evidence since the 2019 update of the Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) Guideline. The key clinical questions were developed using the Patients/Population (P), Intervention(s) (I), Comparison/Comparator (C), and Outcome (O) model for three questions that focuses on the outcomes of symptoms (dyspnea)/health status, acute exacerbations, and mortality. The evidence from this systematic review and meta-analysis leads to the recommendation that all symptomatic patients with spirometry-confirmed COPD should receive long-acting bronchodilator maintenance therapy. Those with moderate to severe dyspnea (modified Medical Research Council ≥ 2) and/or impaired health status (COPD Assessment Test ≥ 10) and a low risk of exacerbations should receive combination therapy with a long-acting muscarinic antagonist/long-acting ẞ2-agonist (LAMA/LABA). For those with a moderate/severe dyspnea and/or impaired health status and a high risk of exacerbations should be prescribed triple combination therapy (LAMA/LABA/inhaled corticosteroids) azithromycin, roflumilast or N-acetylcysteine is recommended for specific populations; a recommendation against the use of theophylline, maintenance systemic oral corticosteroids such as prednisone and inhaled corticosteroid monotherapy is made for all COPD patients.

Implementing an Evidence-Based COPD Hospital Discharge Protocol: A Narrative Review and Expert Recommendations

Discharge bundles, comprising evidence-based practices to be implemented prior to discharge, aim to optimise patient outcomes. They have been recommended to address high readmission rates in patients who have been hospitalised for an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Hospital readmission is associated with increased morbidity and healthcare resource utilisation, contributing substantially to the economic burden of COPD. Previous studies suggest that COPD discharge bundles may result in fewer hospital readmissions, lower risk of mortality and improvement of patient quality of life. However, evidence for their effectiveness is inconsistent, likely owing to variable content and implementation of these bundles. To ensure consistent provision of high-quality care for patients hospitalised with an exacerbation of COPD and reduce readmission rates following discharge, we propose a comprehensive discharge protocol, and provide evidence highlighting the importance of each element of the protocol. We then review care bundles used in COPD and other disease areas to understand how they affect patient outcomes, the barriers to implementing these bundles and what strategies have been used in other disease areas to overcome these barriers. We identified four evidence-based care bundle items for review prior to a patient's discharge from hospital, including (1) smoking cessation and assessment of environmental exposures, (2) treatment optimisation, (3) pulmonary rehabilitation, and (4) continuity of care. Resource constraints, lack of staff engagement and knowledge, and complexity of the COPD population were some of the key barriers inhibiting effective bundle implementation. These barriers can be addressed by applying learnings on successful bundle implementation from other disease areas, such as healthcare practitioner education and audit and feedback. By utilising the relevant implementation strategies, discharge bundles can be more (cost-)effectively delivered to improve patient outcomes, reduce readmission rates and ensure continuity of care for patients who have been discharged from hospital following a COPD exacerbation.

Year-to-year trajectories of hospital utilisation rates among patients with COPD: a real-world, single-centre, retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

The long-term clinical trajectory of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in terms of year-to-year hospital utilisation rates can be highly variable and is not well studied. We investigated year-to-year trends of hospitalisation or emergency department (ED) visits among patients with COPD over 3 years, identified distinct trajectories and examined associated predictive factors.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Data were extracted from the Changi General Hospital, Singapore COPD data warehouse.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with COPD aged ≥40 years with 3 years of follow-up data.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The yearly rates of hospitalisations or ED visits, stratified by COPD-related or all-cause, were described. Group-based trajectory modelling was used to identify clinically distinct trajectories year-by-year. Baseline predictive factors associated with different trajectories were examined.

RESULTS

In total, 396 patients were analysed (median age 70 years; 87% male). Four trajectories were generated for year-to-year trends in COPD-related hospitalisations/ED visits (C1-C4: consistently frequent, consistently infrequent, improving and worsening); post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was a significant predictor of trajectory, with worse lung function being the main factor associated with less favourable trajectories. For all-cause hospitalisations/ED visits, four trajectories were identified (A1-A4: infrequent and stable, frequent and stable, frequent and decreasing, frequent and increasing); significant differences in age (p=0.041), sex (p=0.016) and ethnicity (p=0.005) were found between trajectories. Higher overall comorbidity burden was a key determinant in less favourable trajectories of all-cause hospitalisations/ED visits.

CONCLUSIONS

Distinct trajectories were demonstrated for hospitalisations/ED visits related to COPD or all causes, with predictive associations between FEV1 and COPD trajectory and between comorbidities and all-cause trajectory. Trajectories carry nuanced prognostic information and may be useful for clinical risk stratification to identify high-risk individuals for preventative treatments.

Changes in tidal breathing biomarkers as indicators of treatment response in AECOPD patients in an acute care setting

PURPOSE

Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a complication of COPD that typically necessitates intensified treatment and hospitalization. It is linked to higher morbidity, mortality and healthcare spending. Assessment of therapy response for AECOPD is difficult due to the variability of symptoms and limitations in current measures. Hence, there is a need for new biomarkers to aid in the management of AECOPD in acute care settings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifteen hospitalized AECOPD patients (GOLD 3-4) were enrolled in this study. Treatment response was assessed daily through clinical evaluations and by monitoring tidal breathing biomarkers (respiratory rate [RR], expiratory time [Tex], inspiratory time [Tin], expiratory pause [Trst], total breath time [Ttot]), using a novel, wearable nanosensor-based device (SenseGuard™).

RESULTS

Patients who showed significant clinical improvement had substantial changes in ΔTex/Ttot (+14%), ΔTrst/Ttot (-18%), and ΔTin/Tex (+0.09), whereas patients who showed mild or no clinical improvement had smaller changes (+5%, +3%, and -0.03, respectively). Linear regression between change in physician's assessment score and the median change in tidal breathing parameters was significant for Tin/Tex (R2 ​= ​0.449, ∗p ​= ​0.017), Tex/Ttot (R2 ​= ​0.556, ∗p ​= ​0.005) and Trst/Ttot (R2 ​= ​0.446, ∗p ​= ​0.018), while no significant regression was observed for RR, Tin/(Trst ​+ ​Tex) and Tin/Ttot.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates the potential of the SenseGuard™ to monitor treatment response in AECOPD patients by measuring changes in tidal breathing biomarkers, which were shown to be associated with significant changes in the patients' respiratory condition as evaluated by physicians. However, further large-scale clinical studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Effectiveness of a Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Program for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

BACKGROUND

The Medicare Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) program reimburses 90-day care episodes post-hospitalization. COPD is a leading cause of early readmissions making it a target for value-based payment reform.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the financial impact of a COPD BPCI program.

DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS

A single-site retrospective observational study evaluated the impact of an evidence-based transitions of care program on episode costs and readmission rates, comparing patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbations who received versus those who did not receive the intervention.

MAIN MEASURES

Mean episode costs and readmissions.

KEY RESULTS

Between October 2015 and September 2018, 132 received and 161 did not receive the program, respectively. Mean episode costs were below target for six out of eleven quarters for the intervention group, as opposed to only one out of twelve quarters for the control group. Overall, there were non-significant mean savings of $2551 (95% CI: - $811 to $5795) in episode costs relative to target costs for the intervention group, though results varied by index admission diagnosis-related group (DRG); there were additional costs of $4184 per episode for the least-complicated cohort (DRG 192), but savings of $1897 and $1753 for the most complicated index admissions (DRGs 191 and 190, respectively). A significant mean decrease of 0.24 readmissions per episode was observed in 90-day readmission rates for intervention relative to control. Readmissions and hospital discharges to skilled nursing facilities were factors of higher costs (mean increases of $9098 and $17,095 per episode respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our COPD BPCI program had a non-significant cost-saving effect, although sample size limited study power. The differential impact of the intervention by DRG suggests that targeting interventions to more clinically complex patients could increase the financial impact of the program. Further evaluations are needed to determine if our BPCI program decreased care variation and improved quality of care.

PRIMARY SOURCE OF FUNDING

This research was supported by NIH NIA grant #5T35AG029795-12.

Study Protocol for a Hospital-to-Home Transitional Care for Older Adults Hospitalized with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in South Korea: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory condition characterized by persistent inflammation in the airways, resulting in narrowing and obstruction of the air passages. The development of COPD is primarily attributed to long-term exposure to irritants, such as cigarette smoke and environmental pollutants. Among individuals hospitalized for exacerbations of COPD, approximately one in five is readmitted within 30 days of discharge or encounters immediate post-discharge complications, highlighting a lack of adequate preparedness for self-management. To address this inadequate preparedness, transitional care services (TCS) have emerged as a promising approach. Therefore, this study primarily aims to present a detailed protocol for a multi-site, single-blind, randomized, controlled trial (RCT) aimed at enhancing self-management competency and overall quality of life for patients with COPD through the provision of TCS, facilitated by a proficient Clinical Research Coordinator. The RCT intervention commenced in September 2022 and is set to conclude in December 2024, with a total of 362 COPD patients anticipated to be enrolled in the study. The intervention program encompasses various components, including an initial assessment during hospitalization, comprehensive self-management education, facilitation of social welfare connections, post-discharge home visits, and regular telephone monitoring. Furthermore, follow-up evaluations are conducted at both one month and three months after discharge to assess the effectiveness of the intervention in terms of preventing re-hospitalization, reducing acute exacerbations, and enhancing disease awareness among participants. The results of this study are expected to provide a basis for the development of TCS fee payment policies for future health insurance.

The most common pulmonary diseases length of stay, and characteristics of patients admitted to pulmonary service

BACKGROUND

Although chronic respiratory diseases are prevalent in Saudi Arabia, there are limited data on the patient burden and associated factors. The aim of this study is to identify the chronic respiratory diseases frequently admitted to pulmonary services and to determine the patient's characteristics, associated comorbidities readmission rate, and reason for a more extended stay in hospital.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted over a 5-year period at King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the Pulmonary Division, between March 2015 and December 2019. Data on demographics, comorbidities, and chronic respiratory diseases were collected.

RESULTS

Total patients admitted were 1315 patients, female 54.2%, the mean age was 62.4 (SD±17.6), and the ages ranged from 14 to 98 years. Overall, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was the most common respiratory disease requiring admission (17.9%), followed by interstitial lung disease (15.8%), bronchiectasis (11.9%), and obesity hypoventilation syndrome (10.8%). The most common comorbidities were obesity (42.5%), diabetes 49.1%, and hypertension 54.9%. Only 135 (10.3%) were readmitted within 30 days posthospital discharge. Among the patients who were readmitted, 103 (76.3%) were readmitted due to issues related to previous admission diagnosis, noncompliance 75 (55.5%), social reasons, and premature discharges in 51 (37.8%) and 29 (21.5%) of the cases, respectively. The respiratory disease varied significantly by gender, age, obesity status, comorbidities, length of stay (LOS), and admissions.

CONCLUSION

Chronic respiratory diseases are prevalent in our population and are mainly influenced by gender, age, obesity status, comorbidities, LOS, and admissions. Policymakers and health professionals need to recognize the burden of chronic respiratory diseases on patients and health systems and implement effective prevention programs.

The Effect of a Healthcare Services Hotline on Quality of Life and Hospital Readmissions for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common debilitating disease marked by frequent exacerbations and hospitalizations, economic burden, and reduced quality of life. This study aimed to determine the effect of a healthcare hotline on quality of life and hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge for patients with COPD. Sixty patients with COPD who needed home healthcare services were recruited for this quasi-experimental study. A direct hotline was provided to patients and their caregivers in the intervention group to answer their questions about the disease. Data were collected using a demographics checklist, and St. George Respiratory Questionnaire. The number of hospitalizations and mean length of hospital stay in the intervention group within 30 days was significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.05). As for quality of life, only the mean score of symptoms was significantly different between the intervention and control groups (p < 0.05). The results showed the positive effect of a healthcare hotline on reducing readmission rates within 30 days of discharge and its low effect on quality of life of COPD patients.

The Impact of Primary Care Practice Models on Indicators of Unplanned Health Care Utilization for Ontario Adults Newly Diagnosed With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a highly prevalent chronic disease. Most of the care for this population occurs within the primary care setting; however, the extent to which different primary care practice models influence the outcomes of patients with COPD remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to compare and analyze the influence of different primary care practice models on indicators of unplanned health care utilization among newly diagnosed COPD patients in Ontario.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using health administrative database within the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. The cohort included persons who were 35 years and older with physician-diagnosed COPD between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2019. Patients were assigned into 3 practice models: team-based, traditional, and no enrolment. The primary outcomes examined was unplanned health care utilization, specifically emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. To account for excessive zero values, the zero inflated negative binomial (ZINB) models were used to analyze the association between different practice models and unplanned health care utilization.

RESULTS

Among 57,145 individuals who met the inclusion criteria, 55,994 were included in the regression analysis. Of the included participants, 62.8% of patients were in the traditional group, 30.3% were in the team-based group, and 6.9% were in the no enrolment group. Between 2014 and 2019, 70.7% of the cohort had at least 1 all-cause ED visit without hospitalization. The adjusted ZINB models showed no significant difference in risks of experiencing an unplanned health care utilization between the team-based and traditional groups. However, patients in the no enrolment group had a significantly higher risk of ED visit without hospitalization regardless of cause, ED visit with hospitalization regardless of cause, and 30-day readmissions regardless of cause.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary care practice models are complex, influenced by remuneration and organizational structures, reinforcing the need for further research to enhance our understanding of primary care reforms. Furthermore, given the growing shortage of primary care providers, patients with COPD and other chronic conditions are particularly vulnerable.

Prevention of Re-Hospitalization for Acute Exacerbations: Perspectives of People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Qualitative Study

Purpose

Current guidelines for prevention of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) reflect clinical understanding of the causes of exacerbations but with a limited recognition of person-specific contributing factors. As part of a randomized trial of a person-centered intervention aiming to promote self-determination, we describe personal perspectives of those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on what they saw as the causes and best ways to stay well and prevent rehospitalization after an AECOPD.

Patients and Methods

Twelve participants (mean age 69.3 years, six female, six male; eight New Zealand European, two Māori, one Pacific, and one other) were interviewed about their experiences of staying well and out of hospital. Data were collected via individual semi-structured interviews one year following an index hospital admission for AECOPD and focused on the participants' views and experiences of their health condition, their beliefs about staying well, and the causes of and factors preventing further exacerbations and hospitalizations. Data were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory methods.

Results

Three main themes were identified that described participants' views on what helped or hindered them to stay well and out of hospital: 1) Being Positive: The importance of having a positive mindset; 2) Being Proactive: Practical steps to reduce the risk of, and consequences from, episodes of AECOPD; and 3) Being in Control: Feeling in command of one's life and health. Each of these was affected by Being Connected: The influence of significant others, particularly close family.

Conclusion

This research expands our understanding of how patients manage COPD and adds patient perspectives to current knowledge on how to prevent recurrent AECOPD. Programs which promote self-efficacy and positivity would be beneficial additions to AECOPD prevention strategies, as could the inclusion of family or significant others in wellbeing plans.

Care Quality for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Readmission Penalty Era

Rationale: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fifth-leading cause of admissions and third-leading cause of readmissions among U.S. adults. Recent policies instituted financial penalties for excessive COPD readmissions. Objectives: To evaluate changes in the quality of care for patients hospitalized for COPD after implementation of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients older than 40 years of age hospitalized for COPD across 995 U.S. hospitals (Premier Healthcare Database). Measurements and Main Results: Quality of care before and after HRRP implementation was measured via adherence to recommended inpatient care treatments for acute exacerbations of COPD (recommended care, nonrecommended care, "ideal care" [all recommended and no nonrecommended care]). We included 662,842 pre-HRRP (January 2010-September 2014) and 285,508 post-HRRP (October 2014-December 2018) admissions. Recommended care increased at a rate of 0.16% per month pre-HRRP and 0.01% per month post-HRRP (P < 0.001). Nonrecommended care decreased at a rate of 0.15% per month pre-HRRP and 0.13% per month post-HRRP. Ideal care increased at a rate of 0.24% per month pre-HRRP and 0.11% per month post-HRRP (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The pre-HRRP trends toward improving care quality for inpatient COPD care slowed after HRRP implementation. This suggests that financial penalties for readmissions did not stimulate higher quality of care for patients hospitalized with COPD. It remains unclear what policies or approaches will be effective to ensure high care quality for patients hospitalized with COPD exacerbations.

All-cause readmission rate and risk factors of 30- and 90-day after discharge in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The readmission rate following hospitalization for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is surprisingly high, and frequent readmissions represent a higher risk of mortality and a heavy economic burden. However, information on all-cause readmissions in patients with COPD is limited.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to systematically summarize all-cause COPD readmission rates within 30 and 90 days after discharge and their underlying risk factors.

METHODS

Eight electronic databases were searched to identify relevant observational studies about COPD readmission from inception to 1 August 2022. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for methodological quality assessment. We adopt a random effects model or a fixed effects model to estimate pooled all-cause COPD readmission rates and potential risk factors.

RESULTS

A total of 28 studies were included, of which 27 and 8 studies summarized 30- and 90-day all-cause readmissions, respectively. The pooled all-cause COPD readmission rates within 30 and 90 days were 18% and 31%, respectively. The World Health Organization region was initially considered to be the source of heterogeneity. We identified alcohol use, discharge destination, two or more hospitalizations in the previous year, and comorbidities such as heart failure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, anemia, cancer, or tumor as potential risk factors for all-cause readmission, whereas female and obesity were protective factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with COPD had a high all-cause readmission rate, and we also identified some potential risk factors. Therefore, it is urgent to strengthen early follow-up and targeted interventions, and adjust or avoid risk factors after discharge, so as to reduce the major health economic burden caused by frequent readmissions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (no. CRD42022369894).

Secular trend and risk factors of 30-day COPD-related readmission in Beijing, China

Readmission due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation contributes significantly to disease burden. Trend in readmission rate among COPD patients in China is not well characterized. We described the secular trend and identify risk factors of COPD-related 30-day readmission in Beijing during 2012–2017. In this retrospective cohort study, we used data from a citywide hospital discharge database in Beijing. We included patients ≥ 40 years with a primary diagnosis of COPD from 2012 to 2017. A total of 131 591 index admissions were identified. COPD-related 30-day readmission was defined as the initial admission with a primary diagnosis of COPD that occurs within 30 days from the discharge date of an index admission. Overall and annual 30-day readmission rates were calculated in the total population and subgroups defined by patient characteristics. We used multivariable logistic models to investigate risk factors for readmission and in-hospital mortality within 30 days. The overall 30-day COPD-related readmission rate was 15.8% (n = 20 808). The readmission rate increased from 11.5% in 2012 to 17.2% in 2017, with a multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI) for annual change to be 1.08 (1.06–1.09) (P trend < 0.001). The upward trend in readmission rate levelled off at about 17% since 2014. The readmission rate of men was higher and increased faster than women. Comorbid osteoporosis, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, and cancer were associated with an increased risk of 30-day COPD-related readmission. The 30-day COPD-related readmission rate in Beijing showed an overall increasing trend from 2012 to 2017. Future efforts should be made to further improve care quality and reduce early readmissions of COPD patients.

Global, regional, and national burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from 1990 to 2019

Background: We aimed to estimate the incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 204 countries and territories. We examined the variations in these trends by country, gender, age group, and sociodemographic index (SDI).

Methods: We calculated the estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) to assess temporal trends in the age-standardized incidence rate, age-standardized mortality rate, and age-standardized DALYs of COPD from 1990 to 2019.

Results: From 1990 to 2019, the COPD incidence and COPD-associated deaths and DALYs increased worldwide by 86%, 30%, and 26%, respectively. From 1990 to 2019, the global age-standardized incidence rate (EAPC, −0.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), −0.25 to 0.04), age-standardized mortality rate (EAPC, −2.10; 95% CI, −2.19 to −2.00), and age-standardized DALYs (EAPC, −1.87; 95% CI, −1.94 to −1.81) of COPD decreased. The age-standardized incidence of COPD increased most in areas with high SDI (EAPC 0.56). The largest increases in the age-standardized incidence rate of COPD were recorded in High-income North America (EAPC, 1.41), Southern Latin America (EAPC, 0.29), and North Africa and the Middle East (EAPC, 0.09). The three countries that recorded the largest increases in COPD incidence from 1990 to 2019 were the United States of America (EAPC, 1.51), Saudi Arabia (EAPC, 1.17), and Oman (EAPC, 1.10).

Conclusion: Despite the decreased burden of COPD globally from 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized incidence rate of COPD increased in areas with high SDI, High-income North America, Southern Latin America, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Machine Learning-Based 30-Day Hospital Readmission Predictions for COPD Patients Using Physical Activity Data of Daily Living with Accelerometer-Based Device

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significantly concerning disease, and is ranked highest in terms of 30-day hospital readmission. Generally, physical activity (PA) of daily living reflects the health status and is proposed as a strong indicator of 30-day hospital readmission for patients with COPD. This study attempted to predict 30-day hospital readmission by analyzing continuous PA data using machine learning (ML) methods. Data were collected from 16 patients with COPD over 3877 days, and clinical information extracted from the patients’ hospital records. Activity-based parameters were conceptualized and evaluated, and ML models were trained and validated to retrospectively analyze the PA data, identify the nonlinear classification characteristics of different risk factors, and predict hospital readmissions. Overall, this study predicted 30-day hospital readmission and prediction performance is summarized as two distinct approaches: prediction-based performance and event-based performance. In a prediction-based performance analysis, readmissions predicted with 70.35% accuracy; and in an event-based performance analysis, the total 30-day readmissions were predicted with a precision of 72.73%. PA data reflect the health status; thus, PA data can be used to predict hospital readmissions. Predicting readmissions will improve patient care, reduce the burden of medical costs burden, and can assist in staging suitable interventions, such as promoting PA, alternate treatment plans, or changes in lifestyle to prevent readmissions.

Decreasing Hospital Readmissions Utilizing an Evidence-Based COPD Care Bundle

PURPOSE

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic condition that leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Management of COPD hospitalizations utilizing an evidence-based care bundle can provide consistent quality of care and may reduce readmissions.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective cohort study evaluated readmission rates in patients hospitalized with a COPD exacerbation. Patients in the pre-intervention cohort received usual care, while patients in the post-intervention cohort received an innovative inpatient COPD care bundle. The bundle focused on optimizing care in five areas: consults, inpatient interventions, education, transitions of care, and after discharge care.

RESULTS

In this study, 149 subjects were included in the pre-intervention cohort and 214 subjects were included in the post-intervention cohort. Thirty-day readmission rates were lower in the post-intervention cohort compared to the pre-intervention cohort, 22.4% vs. 38.3% (p = 0.001). A reduction in 60-day and 90-day readmission rates was also observed, 13.7% vs. 40.3% (p < 0.001) and 10.1% vs. 32.2% (p < 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Bundled care is an effective and inexpensive method for institutions to provide consistent and quality care. The findings of this study demonstrate that the implementation of a COPD care bundle is an effective strategy to decrease hospital readmissions.

Cost-effectiveness of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Among US Adults With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

IMPORTANCE

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) after exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is effective in reducing COPD hospitalizations and mortality while improving health-related quality of life, yet use of PR remains low. Estimates of the cost-effectiveness of PR in this setting could inform policies to improve uptake.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the cost-effectiveness of participation in PR after hospitalization for COPD.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This economic evaluation estimated the cost-effectiveness of participation in PR compared with no PR after COPD hospitalization in the US using a societal perspective analysis. A Markov microsimulation model was developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness in the US health care system with a lifetime horizon, 1-year cycle length, and a discounted rate of 3% per year for both costs and outcomes. Data sources included published literature from October 1, 2001, to April 1, 2021, with the primary source being an analysis of Medicare beneficiaries living with COPD between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2015. The analysis was designed and conducted from October 1, 2019, to December 15, 2021. A base case microsimulation, univariate analyses, and a probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed.

INTERVENTIONS

Pulmonary rehabilitation compared with no PR after COPD hospitalization.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Net cost in US dollars, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.

RESULTS

Among the hypothetical cohort with a mean age of 76.9 (age range, 60-92) years and 58.6% women, the base case microsimulation from a societal perspective demonstrated that PR resulted in net cost savings per patient of $5721 (95% prediction interval, $3307-$8388) and improved quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) (gain of 0.53 [95% prediction interval, 0.43-0.63] years). The findings of net cost savings and improved QALE with PR did not change in univariate analyses of patient age, the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease stage, or number of PR sessions. In a probabilistic sensitivity analysis, PR resulted in net cost savings and improved QALE in every one of 1000 samples and was the dominant strategy in 100% of simulations at any willingness-to-pay threshold. In a 1-way sensitivity analysis of total cost, assuming completion of 36 sessions, a single PR session would remain cost saving to $171 per session and had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $884 per session for $50 000/QALY and $1597 per session for $100 000/QALY.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this economic evaluation, PR after COPD hospitalization appeared to result in net cost savings along with improvement in QALE. These findings suggest that stakeholders should identify policies to increase access and adherence to PR for patients with COPD.

Effectiveness of a Home-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program in Veterans

Purpose: This study examined the effectiveness and safety of a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (HBPR) program in Veterans. Methods: Patients were evaluated from five Veteran Affairs facilities that enrolled in the 12-week program. Pre- to postchanges were completed on clinical outcomes using paired t-tests and the Wilcoxon signed rank sum test. Descriptive statistics were used for patient demographics, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations. Results: Two hundred eighty-five patients with a mean age of 69.6 ± 8.3 years enrolled in the HBPR program from October 2018 to March 2020. There was a 62% (n = 176) completion rate of both pre- and post assessments. Significant improvements were detected after completion of the HBPR program in dyspnea (modified Medical Research Council: 3.1 ± 1.1 vs. 1.9 ± 1.1; p < 0.0001); exercise capacity (six-minute walk distance: 263.1 m ± 96.6 m vs. 311.0 m ± 103.6 m; p < 0.0001; Duke Activity Status Index: 13.8 ± 9.6 vs. 20.0 ± 12.7; p < 0.0001; self-reported steps per day: 1514.5 ± 1360.4 vs. 3033.8 ± 2716.2; p < 0.0001); depression (patient health questionnaire-9: 8.3 ± 5.7 vs. 6.4 ± 5.1); nutrition habits (rate your plate, heart: 45.3 ± 9.0 vs. 48.9 ± 9.2; p < 0.0001); multicomponent assessment tools (BODE Index: 5.1 ± 2.5 vs. 3.4 ± 2.4; p < 0.0001), GOLD ABCD Assessment: p < 0.0009); and quality of life (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test: 25.4 ± 7.7 vs. 18.7 ± 8.5; p < 0.0001). No adverse events were reported due to participation in HBPR. Conclusions: The HBPR program is a safe and effective model and provides an additional option to address the gap in pulmonary rehabilitation access and utilization in the Veterans Affairs.

Evaluation of COPD Chronic Care Management Collaborative to Reduce Emergency Department and Hospital Revisits Across U.S. Hospitals

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third-leading cause of early readmissions. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid instituted a financial penalty for excessive COPD readmissions galvanizing hospitals to implement effective strategies to reduce readmissions. We evaluated a 6-month COPD Chronic Care Management Collaborative to support hospitals to reduce preventable COPD-related revisits.

METHODS

Sites were recruited among nearly 300 Vizient, Inc., members. The Collaborative used performance improvement initiatives to assist with implementation of effective strategies. Participants submitted performance data for 2 outcome measures: emergency department (ED) and hospital revisits.

RESULTS

Forty-seven members enrolled (Part I+II: n=33; Part I: n=3; Part II: n=11) of which 23 submitted data (n=23/47). The majority (n=19/23, 83%) reduced rates of COPD-related ED and/or hospital revisits. Among all 23 sites, the change in ED visits went from 11.05% to 10.87%; among 7 sites with reductions in ED visits, the reduction was 12.7% to 9%. Among all 23 sites, there were not reductions in hospital readmissions (18.53% to 18.64%); among 7 sites with reductions, the readmission rate went from 20.1% to 15.6%. The mean reach across 17 hospitals reporting reach for their most successful measure at baseline was 35.2% (SD=26.7%) and for the other 6, reporting reach at follow-up was 73.8%% (SD=18.3%); of note, only 3 sites submitted both baseline and follow-up data.

CONCLUSIONS

The Collaborative successfully supported the majority of sites in reducing COPD-related ED and/or hospital revisits using subject matter experts and coaching strategies to support hospitals' implementation of COPD quality improvement interventions.

Feasibility of a Novel Real-Time Provider Teaching Intervention in Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background

It is not known whether an intervention using real-time provider teaching in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) improves provider knowledge and/or patient outcomes.

Objective

To pilot the combination of a novel, real-time provider teaching intervention delivered by subspecialists to Internal Medicine trainees with a traditional patient education and medication reconciliation (PEMR) intervention and to assess the impact of these interventions on provider knowledge regarding COPD and patient care.

Methods

This was a single-center, nonrandomized, quality-improvement study. Patients admitted with AECOPD were prospectively identified between June 19 and November 20, 2019. Patients with asthma, lung cancer, or interstitial lung disease were excluded. The primary care team received a novel intervention featuring in-person, real-time teaching, covering Global Initiative on Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease COPD groups and management, including pulmonary rehabilitation referral. Providers completed a knowledge assessment before and after their real-time teaching session. Provider knowledge scores before and after teaching were compared using McNemar's test. Patients received a traditional PEMR intervention from a nurse practitioner and/or clinical pharmacist. A retrospective chart review was conducted for 50 historical control patients admitted with AECOPD to obtain preintervention rates of discharge on long-acting bronchodilators and referral to pulmonary rehabilitation. The proportions of patients discharged on long-acting bronchodilators and referred to pulmonary rehabilitation in the intervention group were compared with the preintervention historical control patients using chi-square testing.

Results

Seventy-one providers caring for patients with AECOPD received real-time teaching. Postintervention, there was significant improvement in knowledge scores pertaining to Global Initiative on Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease groups and exacerbation risk (81% correct vs. 43% on pretest; P < 0.001) and guideline-directed treatment (83% correct vs. 28% on pretest; P < 0.001). Out of 44 eligible patients, 75% (n = 33 patients) received the PEMR intervention. Ninety percent of patients (n = 40 patients) were discharged on any long-acting inhaler, similar to the group of preintervention control subjects. Pulmonary rehabilitation referrals were made for 50% of patients (n = 22 patients) compared with 6% of preintervention control subjects (n = 3 patients; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

In this single-center quality-improvement study, the combination of a novel, real-time provider teaching intervention and a traditional PEMR intervention improved provider knowledge and was associated with increased referrals to pulmonary rehabilitation.

Association of weather, air pollutants, and seasonal influenza with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospitalization risks

The influences of weather and air pollutants on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been well-studied. However, the heterogeneous effects of different influenza viral infections, air pollution and weather on COPD admissions and re-admissions have not been thoroughly examined. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the relationships between meteorological variables, air pollutants, seasonal influenza, and hospital admissions and re-admissions due to COPD in Hong Kong, a non-industrial influenza epicenter. A total number of 507703 hospital admissions (i.e., index admissions) and 301728 re-admission episodes (i.e., episodes within 30 days after the previous discharge) for COPD over 14 years (1998-2011) were obtained from all public hospitals. The aggregated weekly numbers were matched with meteorological records and outdoor air pollutant concentrations. Type-specific and all-type influenza-like illness positive (ILI+) rates were used as proxies for influenza activity. Generalized additive models were used in conjunction with distributed-lag non-linear models to estimate the associations of interest. According to the results, high concentrations of fine particulate matter, oxidant gases, and cold weather were strong independent risk factors of COPD outcomes. The cumulative adjusted relative risks exhibited a monotone increasing trend except for ILI+ B, and the numbers were statistically significant over the entire observed range of ILI+ total and ILI+ A/H3N2 when the reference rate was zero. COPD hospitalization risk from influenza infection was higher in the elderly than that in the general population. In conclusion, our results suggest that health administrators should impose clean air policies, such as strengthening emissions control on petrol vehicles, to reduce pollution from oxidant gases and particulates. An extension of the influenza vaccination program for patients with COPD may need to be encouraged: for example, vaccination may be included in hospital discharge planning, particularly before the winter epidemic.

Managing hospitalized patients with a COPD exacerbation: the role of hospitalists and the multidisciplinary team

Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with high rates of hospitalizations, costs, and morbidity. Therefore, hospitalists and the multidisciplinary team (hospital team) need to take a proactive approach to ensure patients are effectively managed from hospital admission to postdischarge. Comprehensive screening and diagnostic testing of patients at admission will enable an accurate diagnosis of COPD exacerbations, and severity, as well as other factors that may impact the length of hospital stay. Depending on the exacerbation severity and cause, pharmacotherapies may include short-acting bronchodilators, systemic corticosteroids, and antibiotics. Oxygen and/or ventilatory support may benefit patients with demonstrable hypoxemia. In preparation for discharge, the hospital team should ensure that patients receive the appropriate maintenance therapy, are counseled on their medications including inhalation devices, and proactively discuss smoking cessation and vaccinations. For follow-up, effective communication can be achieved by transferring discharge summaries to the primary care physician via an inpatient case manager. An inpatient case manager can support both the hospitalist and the patient in scheduling follow-up appointments, sending patient reminders, and confirming that a first outpatient visit has occurred. A PubMed search (prior to 26 January 2021) was conducted using terms such as: COPD, exacerbation, hospitalization. This narrative review focuses on the challenges the hospital team encounters in achieving optimal outcomes in the management of patients with COPD exacerbations. Additionally, we propose a novel simplified algorithm that may help the hospital team to be more proactive in the diagnosis and management of patients with COPD exacerbations.

Does Transient Opioid Use Increase Risk of Short-Term Respiratory Exacerbation among Older Adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?

The objective of this study was to examine the association between transient opioid use and acute respiratory exacerbations among older Medicare beneficiaries with COPD. This study was conducted using national Medicare 5% sample administrative claims data between 2012 and 2016 and employed a case-crossover design. The date of eligible COPD exacerbation events was defined as the index date and the presence of opioid prescriptions during a 7-day exposure window prior to index date was compared to a set of 10 control periods, each 7-days long. The association between opioid exposure and COPD exacerbation was estimated using a conditional logistic regression with robust sandwich estimators, after accounting for known time-varying confounders. Among 16,290 eligible COPD exacerbations included in the study sample, the average patient age was 77.08 years, and 64.2% of events occurred in women. Transient exposure to opioids was associated with a 76% increase in the odds of an acute COPD exacerbation (OR: 1.76, 95%CI: 1.67-1.84), and each 25 mg increase in morphine milligram equivalent dose was associated with a 18% increase in the odds of exacerbation (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.15-1.21). Effect estimates were consistent across subgroup analyses conducted among events identified in the emergency department versus hospital, and among individuals with a single exacerbation event versus those with multiple exacerbations. Transient exposure to opioids was associated with an increased short-term risk of respiratory exacerbation among older adults with COPD. Treatment decisions for breathlessness among individuals with COPD need to account for the benefit-risk profile of opioids.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15412555.2021.2013460 .

Association between Initiation of Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Rehospitalizations in Patients Hospitalized with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Rationale: Although clinical trials have found that pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) can reduce the risk of readmissions after hospitalization for a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation, less is known about PR's impact in routine clinical practice. Objectives: To evaluate the association between initiation of PR within 90 days of discharge and rehospitalization(s). Methods: We analyzed a retrospective cohort of Medicare beneficiaries (66 years of age or older) hospitalized for COPD in 2014 who survived at least 30 days after discharge. Measurements and Main Results: We used propensity score matching and estimated the risk of recurrent all-cause rehospitalizations at 1 year using a multistate model to account for the competing risk of death. Of 197,376 total patients hospitalized in 4,446 hospitals, 2,721 patients (1.5%) initiated PR within 90 days of discharge. Overall, 1,534 (56.4%) patients who initiated PR and 125,720 (64.6%) who did not were rehospitalized one or more times within 1 year of discharge. In the propensity-score-matched analysis, PR initiation was associated with a lower risk of readmission in the year after PR initiation (hazard ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.77-0.90). The mean cumulative number of rehospitalizations at 1 year was 0.95 for those who initiated PR within 90 days and 1.15 for those who did not (P < 0.001). Conclusions: After hospitalization for COPD, Medicare beneficiaries who initiated PR within 90 days of discharge experienced fewer rehospitalizations over 1 year. These results support findings from randomized controlled clinical trials and highlight the need to identify effective strategies to increase PR participation.

Socio-demographic and -economic factors associated with 30-day readmission for conditions targeted by the hospital readmissions reduction program: a population-based study

Background

Early hospital readmissions remain common in patients with conditions targeted by the CMS Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP). There is still no consensus on whether readmission measures should be adjusted based on social factors, and there are few population studies within the U.S. examining how social characteristics influence readmissions for HRRP-targeted conditions. The objective of this study was to determine if specific socio-demographic and -economic factors are associated with 30-day readmissions in HRRP-targeted conditions: acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, acute myocardial infarction, and heart failure.

Methods

The Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to identify patients admitted with HRRP-targeted conditions between January 1, 2010 and September 30, 2015. Stroke was included as a control condition because it is not included in the HRRP. Multivariate models were used to assess the relationship between three social and economic characteristics (gender, urban/rural hospital designation, and estimated median household income within the patient’s zip code) and 30-day readmission rates using a hierarchical two-level logistic model. Age-adjusted models were used to assess relationship differences between Medicare vs. non-Medicare populations.

Results

There were 19,253,997 weighted index hospital admissions for all diagnoses and 3,613,488 30-day readmissions between 2010 and 2015. Patients in the lowest income quartile (≤$37,999) had an increased odds of 30-day readmission across all conditions (P < 0.0001). Female gender and rural hospital designation were associated with a decreased odds of 30-day readmission for most targeted conditions (P < 0.05). Similar findings were also seen in patients ≥65 years old.

Conclusions

Socio-demographic and -economic factors are associated with 30-day readmission rates and should be incorporated into tools or interventions to improve discharge planning and mitigate against readmission.

Reducing Readmissions for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Response to the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program

Rationale: In August 2013, the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program announced financial penalties on hospitals with higher than expected risk-adjusted 30-day readmission rates for Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation. In October 2014, penalties were imposed. We hypothesized that penalties would be associated with decreased readmissions after COPD hospitalizations. Objectives: To determine whether the announcement and enactment of financial penalties for COPD were associated with decreases in hospital readmissions for COPD. Methods: We used data from California's Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development to examine unplanned 30-day all-cause and COPD-related readmissions after COPD hospitalization. The preannouncement period was January 2010 to July 2013. The postannouncement period was August 2013 to September 2014. The postenactment period was October 2014 to December 2017. Using interrupted time series, we investigated the immediate change after the intervention (level change) and differences in the preintervention and postintervention trends (slope change). Results: We identified 333,429 index hospitalizations for COPD from 449 California hospitals. Overall, 69% of patients had Medicare insurance. For all-cause readmissions, the level change at announcement was 0.16% (95% confidence interval [CI], -1.07 to 1.38; P = 0.80); the change in slope between preannouncement and postannouncement periods was -0.01% (95% CI, -0.15 to 0.13; P = 0.92). The level change at enactment was 0.29% (95% CI, -1.11 to 1.69; P = 0.68); the change in slope between postannouncement and postenactment was 0.04% (95% CI, -0.10 to 0.18; P = 0.57). For patients with COPD-related readmissions, the level change at the time of the announcement was 0.09% (95% CI, -0.68 to 0.85; P = 0.83); the change in slope was 0.003% (95% CI, -0.08 to 0.09; P = 0.94). The level change at the time of the enactment was 0.22% (95% CI, -0.69 to 1.12; P = 0.64); the change in slope was -0.02% (95% CI, -0.10 to 0.07; P = 0.72). Conclusions: We did not detect decreases in either all-cause or COPD-related readmission rates at either time point. Although this would suggest that the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program penalty was ineffective for COPD, COPD readmissions had decreased at an earlier time point (October 2012) when penalties were announced for conditions other than COPD. Based on this, we believe early, broad interventions decreased readmissions, such that no difference was seen at this later time points despite institution of COPD-specific penalties.

Strategies to Prevent Readmissions to Hospital for COPD: A Systematic Review

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience high rates of hospital readmissions, placing substantial clinical and economic strain on the healthcare system. Therefore, it is essential to implement evidence-based strategies for preventing these readmissions. The primary objective of our systematic review was to identify and describe the domains of existing primary research on strategies aimed at reducing hospital readmissions among adult patients with COPD. We also aimed to identify existing gaps in the literature to facilitate future research efforts. A total of 843 studies were captured by the initial search and 96 were included in the final review (25 randomized controlled trials, 37 observational studies, and 34 non-randomized interventional studies). Of the included studies, 72% (n = 69) were considered low risk of bias. The majority of included studies (n = 76) evaluated patient-level readmission prevention strategies (medication and other treatments (n = 25), multi-modal (n = 19), follow-up (n = 16), telehealth (n = 8), education and coaching (n = 8)). Fewer assessed broader system- (n = 13) and policy-level (n = 7) strategies. We observed a trend toward reduced all-cause readmissions with the use of medication and other treatments, as well as a trend toward reduced COPD-related readmissions with the use of multi-modal and broader scale system-level interventions. Notably, much of this evidence supported shorter-term (30-day) readmission outcomes, while little evidence was available for longer-term outcomes. These findings should be interpreted with caution, as considerable between-study heterogeneity was also identified. Overall, this review identified several evidence-based interventions for reducing readmissions among patients with COPD that should be targeted for future research.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15412555.2021.1955338 .

Palliative Care and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Readmissions: A Narrative Review

Despite all the advances in the treatment and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), COPD readmissions remain a major challenge nationwide. Increasing evidence suggests that palliative care involvement with a holistic approach towards end-of-life care can significantly improve outcomes related to the quality of life and survival for late-stage cancers and chronic progressive illnesses like COPD, chronic heart failure, and end-stage renal disease. Some studies have attempted to evaluate an association between the involvement of palliative care and readmission reduction, the effect of which remains elusive, especially with regards to COPD readmissions. This review examined the existing literature to analyze the relationship between palliative care involvement for COPD patients and its effect on COPD readmissions.

Early hospital readmission increases short and long - term mortality in patients with interstitial lung disease

Objective:

To investigate the prognostic impact of early readmission (30 days) on hospitalized patients with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD).

Methods:

Observational study analysing a cohort of patients hospitalized in a respiratory ward at a University Hospital. Demographic, clinical data and survival status were collected from patients’ records. Early readmission was defined as hospitalization within 30 days after patient’s discharge. The primary outcome was 90-day and 1-year all-cause mortality.

Results:

Between 2013 to 2016, a total of 2.238 patients were admitted to the respiratory ward and 98 (%) had a diagnosis of ILD. Among them, 74 patients were discharged (25% in-hospital mortality). Early readmission was observed in 15 cases (20.2%). Early readmitted patients were more frequently current smokers (20% vs. 2%, p=0.02). After a multivariate analysis, early readmission was found to be independently associated with 90-day and 1 year mortality (Odds Ratio (OR) 17.6, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 4.5-69-2, p=0.001 and OR 4.5; 95CI 1.3-15.2, p=0.01, respectively).

Conclusion:

In patients with ILD, early readmission after hospitalization increases both short-term and long term mortality. Thus, preventing early readmission after discharge from hospital admission may have an impact in the clinical course of ILD patients. Further studies are required to identify factors contributing to early readmission.

Sleep in hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: an observational study

STUDY OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the risk of undiagnosed sleep disorders among medical patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared with those without COPD.

METHODS

In a prospective cohort study, hospitalized medical ward patients without a known sleep disorder were screened, using validated questionnaires, for sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia. Daily sleep duration and efficiency in the hospital were measured via wrist actigraphy. Participants were classified into two groups: those with a primary or secondary diagnosis of COPD and those without a history of COPD diagnosis. Sleep outcomes were compared by COPD diagnosis.

RESULTS

From March 2010 to July 2015, 572 patients completed questionnaires and underwent wrist actigraphy. On admission, patients with COPD had a greater adjusted risk of obstructive sleep apnea (adjusted odds ratio 1.82, 95% confidence interval 1.12-2.96, P = .015) and clinically significant insomnia (adjusted odds ratio 2.07, 95% confidence interval 1.12-3.83, P = .021); no differences were observed for sleep quality or excess sleepiness on admission. After adjustment, compared with patients without COPD, patients with COPD averaged 34 fewer minutes of nightly sleep (95% confidence interval 4.2-64.0 minutes, P = .026), as well as 22.5% lower odds of normal sleep efficiency while in the hospital (95% confidence interval 3.3%-37.9%, P = .024). No statistically significant differences were observed for in-hospital sleep quality, soundness, or ease of falling asleep.

CONCLUSIONS

Among hospitalized patients in medical wards, those with COPD have higher risk of OSA and insomnia and worse in-hospital sleep quality and quantity compared with those without COPD.

The Association with COPD Readmission Rate and Access to Medical Institutions in Elderly Patients

Purpose

Up to 20% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) require re-admission within 30 days of discharge after hospitalization for acute exacerbations of the disease. These re-admissions can increase morbidity and the economic burden of COPD. Reducing re-admissions has become a policy target in many developed countries. We investigated the risk factors for COPD re-admissions among older adults with COPD.

Patients and Methods

Data obtained from the National Health Insurance Service-Senior Cohort (NHIS-SC) in Korea were analyzed. The subjects included 558,147 patients aged ≥70 who had been admitted for COPD between 2013 and 2015. Re-admission was defined as being re-hospitalized within 30 days after discharge. The key variables selected from the database included income-based insurance contributions, demographical variables, information on inpatient medical services, types of healthcare facilities, and emergency time relevance index (TRI). The TRI is a regional medical-use analysis index that evaluates whether the capacity of the medical services available is appropriate for the medical needs of the target residents.

Results

In 814 COPD re-admission cases among 4867 total admissions due to COPD in elderly subjects, higher re-admission rates were associated with male sex, admission to district hospitals, medical aid recipients, and a longer hospital stay. When additionally adjusting the TRI to identify the difference in re-admission rates due to medical service accessibility, the same results were found, except for the areas of residence. The TRI was lower in re-admission cases (odds ratio 0.991 [95% CI, 0.984‒0.998], P = 0.013).

Conclusion

In this study, COPD re-admission rates among older adults were significantly associated with sex, length of hospital stay, and the type of hospital. The capacity of the medical services provided was also related to the COPD re-admission rate. Better access to appropriate emergency services is associated with reduction of COPD re-admission rates.