Abstract
Objective: To assess the relationship of clinically relevant changes in health status (HS) with exacerbation, hospitalization or death in COPD patients.
Methods: Characteristics and HS (SGRQ) were assessed over a period of 3 years in COPD patients enrolled in the ECLIPSE study. Associations between change in HS (=4 units in SGRQ total score) during year 1 and time to first exacerbation, COPD related hospitalizations and death (=all-cause mortality) during 2-year follow-up were assessed using Kaplan-Meier plots and log-rank test.
Results: 1832 patients (65% male, age 63 years, FEV1 49% predicted) underwent assessment at baseline and 1 year. Patients with improved or stable HS during year 1 had a lower likelihood of exacerbation, hospitalization or death compared to those who deteriorated during 2-year follow-up.
This effect persisted after stratification for baseline HS, modified MRC Dyspnea scale, 6-min walk distance, FEV1, age and number of exacerbations and hospitalizations during year 1.
Conclusions: Patients with stable or improved HS during year 1 of ECLIPSE had a lower likelihood of exacerbation, COPD hospitalization or death during 2-year follow-up. Interventions that stabilize and improve HS may also improve outcomes in COPD patients.
ECLIPSE was sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline (NCT00292552, SCO104960); SW was supported by funding from GlaxoSmithKline (SCO115406) and Lung Foundation Netherlands (3.4.10.015).
- © 2014 ERS