Category: Federal Forum Posters
Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects 64 million people worldwide and is the 3rd leading cause of death. Over 70% of COPD-related costs stem from acute exacerbations. Patients hospitalized with a COPD exacerbation are at an increased risk for future hospitalization. The 2018 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines provide treatment recommendations for patients at increased risk for exacerbations. However, the regimens prescribed to a patient post-exacerbation are not always in accordance with the guidelines. The objective of this quality improvement project is to evaluate the appropriateness of medications prescribed to patients discharged after a COPD exacerbation.
Methods: A single-site, retrospective, observational, quality improvement project will evaluate medication regimens upon discharge for patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of “COPD exacerbation. ” Subjects will be identified by inpatient admissions using diagnosis codes and the diagnosis will be verified by manual chart review. Any patient over the age of 18 with COPD in the primary diagnosis code for the hospitalization will be included for analysis, with an expected population of 200 patients. Patients with a history of asthma, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer or any other disease that negatively impacts lung function will be excluded, as well as any patients who died during hospitalization or were transferred to another medical facility. Information to be collected includes COPD-related admission medications, smoking status and documented smoking cessation counseling, vaccination status, COPD-related discharge medications, and hospital length of stay. The primary objective will be to evaluate the appropriateness of medication regimens prescribed to patients discharged after a COPD exacerbation using the GOLD guidelines. Secondary objectives will look at rates of 30-day readmissions, patients’ smoking status, occurrence of smoking cessation counseling, and vaccination status.
Results: Not applicable
Conclusion: Not applicable
Zahava Picado
– PGY1 Pharmacy Resident, Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Georgetown, TX120 Views