Abstract
Aims: Studies regarding predictors of mortality among stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)patients are limited, with existing data suffering from heterogeneity in terms of the study population, parameters analysed and results, necessitating generalisation from data of high-income countries. This longitudinal observational study aims to analyse factors responsible for 5-year all-cause mortality among stable COPD patients from a single tertiary care centre in India.
Methods: Spirometry diagnosed stable COPD patients were contacted telephonically at the end of 5 years, and the outcome was recorded as alive or dead based on telephonic response. Demographic details including age, sex, residence, smoking status, body mass index (BMI), spirometric indices, six-minute walk distance, combined assessment, modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scores, presence or absence of anxiety/depression, history of previous hospitalisation was available at baseline.
Results: Out of 130 participants at baseline, 75 responded telephonically, with a mortality rate of 26.6% among the 75 subjects. BMI and combined assessment demonstrate a significant association with mortality and fare better than the demographic variables, multivariate indices and spirometric severity on univariate and multivariate analysis.
Conclusion: BMI is a better predictor of mortality among COPD patients than other demographic characteristics. Combined assessment is not only a tool for initial stratification and treatment initiation but also has prognostic utility in stable COPD patients and fares better than other clinical characteristics.