Table 2.
Baseline characteristics and treatment at admission
| Characteristic | Usual hospital care (N=69) | Early assisted discharge (N=70) |
|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 67.8 (11.3) | 68.3 (10.3) |
| Men n (%) | 38 (55.1) | 48 (68.6) |
| Smoking history | ||
| Current smokers n (%) | 27 (39.1) | 23 (32.9) |
| Pack years, median interquartile range | 37 | 44 |
| 36.9 | 26.7 | |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 25.6 (4.3) | 25.0 (5.1) |
| Charlson comorbidity score*23 | 1.68 (1.1) | 1.74 (1.1) |
| Comorbidity score of 1 n (%) | 42 (60.0) | 38 (54.0) |
| Comorbidity score >1 n (%) | 27 (39.0) | 32 (46.0) |
| Living situation | ||
| Living alone n (%) | 21 (30.4) | 22 (31.4) |
| Receiving care at home before admission n (%) | 16 (23.2) | 17 (24.3) |
| Treatment at admission | ||
| Long-term oxygen treatment n (%) | 4 (5.8) | 5 (7.1) |
| Oral steroids n (%) | 5 (7.2) | 10 (14.3) |
| Course of oral steroids prior to admission n (%) | 34 (50.0) | 35 (50.7) |
| Course antibiotics prior to admission n (%) | 31 (45.6) | 32 (46.4) |
| Inhaled β2-agonist (LABA) n (%) | 9 (13.0) | 7 (10.0) |
| Inhaled corticosteroid n (%) | 3 (12.0) | 3 (15.0) |
| Inhaled corticosteroid/LABA combination n (%) | 44 (63.7) | 50 (71.4) |
| Inhaled anticholinergic n (%) | ||
| Tiotropium | 31 (44.9) | 36 (51.4) |
| Ipratropium | 12 (17.4) | 13 (18.6) |
| Followed rehabilitation programme in year prior to admission n (%) | 10 (14.9) | 12 (17.4) |
| Heart Rate (beats/min) | 91.0 (14.2) | 95.6 (18.4) |
| Arterial blood gas† | N=37 | N=42 |
| pH | 7.44 (0.05) | 7.43 (0.04) |
| pO2 (mm Hg) | 70.7 (13.2) | 67.3 (8.1) |
| pCO2 (mm Hg) | 37.2 (6.2) | 39.1 (5.3) |
| Saturation | 94 (2.5) | 94 (3.6) |
Values represent mean (SD), unless stated otherwise.
*Charlson comorbidity index, 1=only COPD, higher score means more comorbidities.
†Only data of blood gas measurements in patients without oxygen supplement.
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; LABA, long-acting β2 agonist.