This study reviewed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) related admissions to Waikato Hospital (94 cases; 84 patients). Of those admissions, 23% were Mäori and 13% received assisted ventilation. Mortality over the following 12 months was 31%, whilst 30-day mortality was 8%. Risk factors for death included decreased body mass index and an increased CURB-65 (confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure age) score. The mean length of stay for these patients (3.4 days) was significantly less than other reported COPD-related hospital stays. In the 12 months before the index admission, 55% of patients were admitted more than once for COPD. The mean age of Mäori admissions, 52 years, was significantly lower than non-Mäori admissions, 72 years (p =0.0001). The authors suggest that additional research regarding the COPD-related length of hospital stay and predictors of mortality is required.
