Sociodemographic Characteristics, Indicators of Quality, and Hospital Visits in Patients With COPD During COVID-19

BACKGROUND: Evidence on quality of care and sociodemographics in patients with COPD needing care during the COVID-19 pandemic is scarce. We aimed to examine indicators of quality and clinical outcomes (eg, readmissions, death) and sociodemographics in patients with COPD in need of hospital care during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic.

METHODS: This was a nationwide register-based study of subjects with a hospital contact due to COPD from January 1, 2015–December 15, 2021, in Denmark. A generalized linear model using Poisson distribution was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) for variables of interest.

RESULTS: During the pandemic, the early average of admissions was 36% lower than before the pandemic; the average number of out-patients was 23% lower. The proportion of readmissions for exacerbation within 30 d of discharge decreased during the pandemic (PR 0.93 [95% CI 0.90–0.96]). The proportion of subjects who died within 30 d of admission remained unchanged (PR 0.98 [0.94–1.03]). Among out-patients, the proportion with 2 or more exacerbations in the preceding year was lower during the pandemic (PR 0.82 [0.80–0.84]). During the pandemic, both in-patients and out-patients were less likely to be younger, to live alone, and to have a lower educational level.

CONCLUSIONS: In this nationwide study of subjects with COPD, hospital contacts decreased during the pandemic due to lockdowns and isolation, which led to a decrease in infections overall in the society. Meanwhile, in-hospital care remained unaltered. However, concerns are raised about patients with COPD and low educational level and immigrants not seeking relevant health care.