Balcells, EvaGimeno-Santos, Elenade Batlle, JordiAntonia Ramon, MariaRodriguez, EstherBenet, MartaFarrero, EvaFerrer, AntoniGuerra, StefanoFerrer, JaumeSauleda, JaumeBarbera, Joan A.Agusti, AlvarRodriguez-Roisin, RobertGea, JoaquimAnto, Josep M.Garcia-Aymerich, JudithPAC-COPD Study Grp2024-07-042024-07-042015-01-17Balcells E, Gimeno-Santos E, De Batlle J, Ramon MA, Rodriguez E, Benet M, et al. Characterisation and prognosis of undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients at their first hospitalisation. BMC Pulm Med. 2015 Jan 17;15:4.1471-2466http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13003/10968http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/20095Background: Under-diagnosis of COPD is an important unmet medical need. We investigated the characteristics and prognosis of hospitalised patients with undiagnosed COPD. Methods: The PAC-COPD cohort included 342 COPD patients hospitalised for the first time for an exacerbation of COPD (2004-2006). Patients were extensively characterised using sociodemographic, clinical and functional variables, and the cohort was followed-up through 2008. We defined undiagnosed COPD by the absence of any self-reported respiratory disease and regular use of any pharmacological respiratory treatment. Results: Undiagnosed COPD was present in 34% of patients. They were younger (mean age 66 vs. 68 years, p = 0.03), reported fewer symptoms (mMRC dyspnoea score, 2.1 vs. 2.6, p < 0.01), and had a better health status (SGRQ total score, 29 vs. 40, p < 0.01), milder airflow limitation (FEV1% ref., 59% vs. 49%, p < 0.01), and fewer comorbidities (two or more, 40% vs. 56%, p < 0.01) when compared with patients with an established COPD diagnosis. Three months after hospital discharge, 16% of the undiagnosed COPD patients had stopped smoking (vs. 5%, p = 0.019). During follow-up, annual hospitalisation rates were lower in undiagnosed COPD patients (0.14 vs. 0.25, p < 0.01); however, this difference disappeared after adjustment for severity. Mortality was similar in both groups. Conclusions: Undiagnosed COPD patients have less severe disease and lower risk of re-hospitalisation when compared with hospitalised patients with known COPD.enghttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Pulmonary diseaseChronic obstructiveHospitalisationCohort studiesEpidemiologyHealth servicesAgedDyspneaPulmonary Disease, Chronic ObstructiveFollow-Up StudiesHumansHealth StatusForced Expiratory VolumeMiddle AgedTobacco UseLongitudinal StudiesPrognosisHospitalizationMaleSelf ReportSeverity of Illness IndexFemaleSmoking CessationComorbidityPatient Dischargeresearch articleAttribution 4.0 International2559520415410.1186/1471-2466-15-4BMC Pulmonary Medicineopen accessComorbilidadFemeninoUso de TabacoHospitalizaciónMasculinoEstudios de SeguimientoVolumen Espiratorio ForzadoEnfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva CrónicaEstudios LongitudinalesHumanosPersona de Mediana EdadEstado de SaludPronósticoAncianoÍndice de Severidad de la EnfermedadEncuestas y CuestionariosDisneaAlta del PacienteAutoinformeCese del Hábito de Fumar2-s2.0-84925234718350588200001L603143372