RESUMEN
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is related to smoking as the main etiological agent although there are other risk factors that can interact influencing the development of the disease. The definition of COPD is based on three points: the presence of persistent respiratory symptoms, exposure to risk agents, and a non-reversible obstructive spirometric ratio. Forced spirometry with a bronchodilator test is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of COPD, however, attempts are being made to develop alternative methods for screening given the current significant underdiagnosis of this pathology.In order to advance in a more personalized medicine for the patient, classification tools have been adopted such as clinical phenotypes and treatable traits, allowing treatments to be adapted according to the characteristics of the patients. Non-pharmacological treatment (smoking cessation, vaccination, physical exercise...) are essential for the management of the disease, as well as pharmacological treatment based on clinical phenotypes. Eosinophils have become a key marker when establishing treatment with inhaled glucocorticoids.In the follow-up of the disease, it is very relevant to evaluate the degree of control being a fundamental element the absence of exacerbations given their implications in mortality, morbidity and quality of life of patients. More studies are needed to better define the phenotypes of exacerbations and their biomarkers.
RESUMEN
Introduction: The worldwide pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel infection with serious clinical manifestations, including death. Our aim is to describe the first non-ICU Spanish deceased series with COVID-19, comparing specifically between unexpected and expected deaths. Methods: In this single-centre study, all deceased inpatients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who had died from March 4 to April 16, 2020 were consecutively included. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory data, were analyzed and compared between groups. Factors associated with unexpected death were identified by multivariable logistic regression methods. Results: In total, 324 deceased patients were included. Median age was 82 years (IQR 76-87); 55.9% males. The most common cardiovascular risk factors were hypertension (78.4%), hyperlipidemia (57.7%), and diabetes (34.3%). Other common comorbidities were chronic kidney disease (40.1%), chronic pulmonary disease (30.3%), active cancer (13%), and immunosuppression (13%). The Confusion, BUN, Respiratory Rate, Systolic BP and age ≥65 (CURB-65) score at admission was >2 in 40.7% of patients. During hospitalization, 77.8% of patients received antivirals, 43.3% systemic corticosteroids, and 22.2% full anticoagulation. The rate of bacterial co-infection was 5.5%, and 105 (32.4%) patients had an increased level of troponin I. The median time from initiation of therapy to death was 5 days (IQR 3.0-8.0). In 45 patients (13.9%), the death was exclusively attributed to COVID-19, and in 254 patients (78.4%), both COVID-19 and the clinical status before admission contributed to death. Progressive respiratory failure was the most frequent cause of death (92.0%). Twenty-five patients (7.7%) had an unexpected death. Factors independently associated with unexpected death were male sex, chronic kidney disease, insulin-treated diabetes, and functional independence. Conclusions: This case series provides in-depth characterization of hospitalized non-ICU COVID-19 patients who died in Madrid. Male sex, insulin-treated diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and independency for activities of daily living are predictors of unexpected death.
