Abstract
Introduction: Cognitive impairment has reached a significant interest due to its relationship with mortality and disability. Cognitive deterioration has been related with different aspects of COPD course like pulmonary function, dyspnea, anxiety, nutrition, etc. There is a consensus about the deterioration of cognitive status and the severity of COPD. Clinical characteristics in acute exacerbation and in remission of COPD could produce changes in cognitive status.
Aims and Objectives: The main objective was to evaluate cognitive status during hospitalization due to an acute exacerbation in severe COPD (AECOPD) (Gold 4) patients.
Methods: A sample of 56 severe COPD patients was included in this study, mean age was of 71.16 ± 10.2 years. Cognitive status was evaluated in two moments of hospitalization, at admission and at discharge.Cognitive status was measured with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
Results: Mean length of hospital stay was of 7.8 ± 2.3 days. Our sample shown changes in cognitive status during the AECOPD. There were significant differences between exacerbation and remission of COPD in all the cognitive areas evaluated .
Conclusions: We can conclude that clinical remission during short hospital stay can produce significant differences on AECOPD patients.
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