Prognosis after Intensive Care for COPD Exacerbation in Relation to Long-Term Oxygen Therapy: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Decisions to admit or refuse admission to intensive care for acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) can be difficult, due to an uncertainty about prognosis. Few studies have evaluated outcomes after intensive care for AECOPD in patients with chronic respiratory failure requiring long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT). In this nationwide observational cohort study, we investigated survival after first-time admission for AECOPD in all patients aged ≥40 years admitted to Swedish intensive care units between January 2008 and December 2015, comparing patients with and without LTOT. Among the 4,648 patients enrolled in the study, 450 were on LTOT prior to inclusion. Respiratory support data was available for 2,631 patients; 73% of these were treated with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) only, 17% were treated with immediate invasive ventilation, and 10% were intubated after failed attempt with NIV. Compared to patients without LTOT, patients with LTOT had higher 30-day mortality (38% vs. 25%; p vs. 43%; p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic and Cox regression models adjusted for age, sex and SAPS3 score confirmed higher mortality in LTOT, odds ratio for 30-day mortality was 1.8 ([95% confidence interval] 1.5–2.3) and hazard ratio for one-year mortality was 1.8 (1.6–2.0). In summary, although need for LTOT is a negative prognostic marker for survival after AECOPD requiring intensive care, a majority of patients with LTOT survived the AECOPD and 30% were alive after one year.