Fatores determinantes para exacerbação da doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica em pacientes em acompanhamento ambulatorial.

Abstract

Justification and Objectives: The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by a bronchial obstruction, partially reversible and progressive, associated with an anomalous inflammatory response of the lungs to inhaled noxious particles or gases. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the possible determining factors for any episodes of exacerbation of COPD in patients in outpatient care. Methods: A retrospective cohort study whereupon data were obtained from medical records of patients with COPD assisted by an Ambulatory Care Unit of a teaching hospital in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul, accompanied in the period January-December 2014. Variables considered for odds ratio analysis (odds ratio) were: age, lung function, gases and medications used. Results: 90 patients were followed of which 30 showed exacerbation episode in 2014, divided into exposed and not exposed to exacerbation groups whereupon there were 4 deaths. Among the risk factors, there was odds ratio 8 times higher for the event in individuals with stage III and IV (p <0.001), 4 times in those with O2 home support (p = 0.002), 6 times in the presence of hypoxemia (p = 0.025) and 5 times in the individuals in Anti-inflammatory steroid use (p <0.001). Conclusion: The results from our study showed that even a simple assessment, but with the main variables involved in clinical status of patients with COPD, it is possible to identify factors that determine the onset of episodes of exacerbation.