Exacerbated COPD in Geriatric Patients at the “Camilo Cienfuegos” Provincial General Hospital
Keywords:
Disease Progression, Aged, Hospitalization, Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseAbstract
Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation in elderly patients represents a critical event with high frailty and frequent polypharmacy, leading to a high risk of functional decline and hospitalization.
Objective: To analyze the behavior of exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in elderly patients admitted to the Geriatrics Ward of Camilo Cienfuegos General Hospital.
Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted at the institution. The sample consisted of 142 patients hospitalized for this condition during the study period who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The variables used were age, sex, risk factors, comorbidities, phenotype, clinical findings at admission, and discharge status. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate absolute and relative frequencies, the results of which were represented in distribution tables.
Results: 42.2 % were in the 70-79 age group, 59.2 % were men; viral infections predominated (64.8 %), 39.4 % were diabetic, and 38.1% suffered from cardiovascular disease and/or anxiety; chronic bronchitic exacerbation predominated (45.1 %), polypnea (95.1 %) and cough (92.9 %) were the most frequent symptoms; infections and severe malnutrition (69.1 %) were the most reported complications; 73.9 % of patients were discharged alive.
Conclusions: Diabetic men aged 70-79 years predominated, with viral infections, cough, and polypnea, and the chronic bronchitic exacerbation phenotype. Their main complication was delirium, and the majority survived without sequelae.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Yuniel Abreu Hernández, Daimara Barrera León, Yamil Fidel García Guevara, Jorge Luis Lorente Montiel
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