Social distancing and admissions for severe exacerbations of COPD – a nationwide study
Year: 2021
Type: conference-abstract
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Social distancing measures introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic may have an effect on non-COVID-19 admissions for severe acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (s-AECOPD). Our aim was to determine the risk of s-AECOPD prior to and after the social distancing period was implemented in Denmark on March 12, 2020. Methods: A nationwide observational cohort study comparing data from all Danish inhabitants between calendar week 1 through 25 in 2019 and 2020, extracted from Danish health registries. A sub-study of s-AECOPD, all-cause mortality, and admissions to intensive care unit (ICU) in outpatients with specialist confirmed diagnosis of COPD was conducted for the same calendar periods. Results: A total of 3.0 million inhabitants aged 40+ years, corresponding to 3.0 million person-years, were followed for s-AECOPD. In the social distancing period in 2020, there were 6,212 incidents of s-AECOPD as compared to 11,260 incidents of s-AECOPD in the same time period in 2019, which corresponds to a relative risk reduction of 45%. In the COPD outpatient cohort (N=16,675), we observed a lower risk of s-AECOPD with the social distancing period (hazard ratio [HR] 0.34, 95%-confidence interval [CI] 0.33-0.36, p<0.001, absolute risk: 25.4% in 2020 and 42.8% in 2019, number needed to treat=6). The risk of all-cause mortality was reduced (HR 0.83, CI 0.76-0.90, p=0.004) as was ICU admissions (HR 0.63, CI 0.47-0.87, p=0.004). Conclusions: The social distancing period was associated with a risk reduction for hospital admittance with s-AECOPD of a larger magnitude than any other known intervention.
Source: European Respiratory Journal
Institutions: University of Copenhagen, Herlev Hospital, Gentofte Hospital, Zealand University Hospital, Amager Hospital, Hvidovre Hospital, Nordsjællands Hospital, Aalborg University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Hospital South West Jutland, Rigshospitalet, Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3215088672