Azithromycin was thought to prevent acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPDs) by anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effects. However, it's value in the treatment of critically ill patients with AECOPD before ICU admission remains unclear. Our study aimed to find whether azithromycin use prior to ICU admission leads to better clinical outcomes for those individuals. 533 critically ill patients with AECOPD from the MIMIC-IV database were included. Univariate followed multivariate logistic regression was used to select risk factors for short-term mortality. The multivariable logistic regression models were implemented to investigate the association between azithromycin use before ICU admission and short-term mortality. Lower short-term mortality was observed in the azithromycin group (p = .021), independent of differences in demographic data and other clinical outcomes (p>.05). Azithromycin use before ICU admission was proved to have a decreased short-term mortality by multivariable logistic regression (p<.05). The results remained consistent after being stratified by age, SOFA scores, pH, and cancer diagnosis. Azithromycin use prior to ICU admission was associated with lower short-term mortality for critically ill AECOPD patients.
Keywords: acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; azithromycin; critical care; intensive care unit; short-term mortality.