Table 3 Characteristics of the COPD exacerbation cases
N (%) | |
|---|---|
(total number of cases = 12,609) | |
Characteristic | |
Purulent sputum: | |
On index date | 171 (1.4%) |
7 days prior to index - index date | 230 (1.8%) |
Lower respiratory infection: | |
On index date | 272 (2.2%) |
7 days prior to index - index date | 578 (4.6%) |
90 days prior to index - index date | 2,462 (19.5%) |
Antibiotic prescribing: | |
On index date | 7,705 (61.1%) |
7 days prior to index - index date | 8,346 (66.2%) |
90 days prior to index - index date | 10,452 (82.9%) |
90 days prior to index – 1 day before index | 2,747 (21.8%) |
Oral corticosteroid prescribing: | |
On index date | 6,444 (51.1%) |
7 days prior to index - index date | 6,869 (54.5%) |
90 days prior to index - index date | 8,511 (67.5%) |
Referral to community respiratory team: | |
7 days prior to index - index date | 6 (<0.1%) |
Referral to Accident and Emergency: | |
On index date | 888 (7.0%) |
7 days prior to index - index date | 1,239 (9.8%) |
Hospitalisations for COPD exacerbation: | |
7 days prior to index - index date | 832 (6.6%) |
With intubation or mechanical ventilation | 33 (0.3%) |