The respiratory Day Hospital (DH) is a care facility currently operating at various healthcare institutions. It monitors patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presenting repeated exacerbations with at least two hospital admissions per year. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the DH program for controlling admissions for COPD exacerbations in this cohort of patients, and to identify clinical factors associated with hospitalizations and mortality. An observational prospective multicenter study was carried out at three hospitals. The sample comprised 150 consecutive patients (median age 70 [65-76] years, FEV1 33 [26-43]%, 97% males), included at the DH program. Over a one-year period, variables assessing effectiveness and use of healthcare resources were recorded. Factors associated with hospitalizations and mortality were identified. Patients made a median of 4[2-5] emergency visits due to COPD exacerbations with a median of 1[0-2] hospitalization(s)/year. Most of exacerbations (77%) were evaluated at the DH, but there were fewer hospitalizations from the DH than from the emergency department (21% vs. 81%, p < 0.001). In all, 29% of the patients had at least two admissions; these were the patients with the most severe disease. Age, readmission at 30-days and the presence of respiratory failure were the predictors of mortality. In conclusion, the DH program is an effective model for reducing hospitalizations in this cohort of patients. In all, 29% of the patients required two hospital admissions or more; these patients had more advanced disease and poorer prognosis, and would be most likely to benefit from additional care support.
Keywords: Health resources; hospitalizations; integrated care; readmissions.