Characteristics of patients (n = 123) with acute exacerbation of their chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
| Characteristics | n = 123 |
|---|---|
| COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ECG, electrocardiogram, FEV1, forced expiratory volume in one second; PaCO2, arterial carbon dioxide tension; PaO2, alveolar oxygen tension; PE, pulmonary embolism. | |
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 71 (8) |
| Women | 39 (32%) |
| Severity of COPD, mean (SD) FEV1 | |
| Very severe, 0.65 (15) l | 35 (28%) |
| Severe, (0.92 (0.26) l | 61 (50%) |
| Moderate, (1.42(0.38) l | 27 (22%) |
| Risk factors | |
| Family history of deep vein thrombosis or PE | 11 (9%) |
| Previous deep vein thrombosis or PE | 5 (3%) |
| Known heart failure | 15 (12%) |
| Paralysis | 4 (3%) |
| Cancer | 6 (5%) |
| Surgery within 1 month | 2 (2%) |
| Immobilisation | 20 (16%) |
| Hormone replacement therapy | 5 (4%) |
| Other comorbid conditions | |
| Hypertension | 41 (33%) |
| Diabetes | 8 (7%) |
| Ischaemic heart disease | 19 (15%) |
| Clinical presentation | |
| Chest pain | 34 (28%) |
| Pleuritic | 17 (50%) |
| Oppressive | 7 (6%) |
| Reproduced by palpation | 2 (2%) |
| Others non-pleuritic | 8 (7%) |
| Cough | 106 (86%) |
| Increased frequency | 79 (64%) |
| Sputum | 84 (68%) |
| Increased volume | 63 (51%) |
| Purulent | 50 (41%) |
| Syncope | 3 (2%) |
| Orthopnoea | 44 (36%) |
| Leg pain | 7 (6%) |
| Physical examination | |
| Heart rate (beats/min), mean (SD) | 99 (21) |
| Respiratory rate (breaths/min), mean (SD) | 26 (6) |
| Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg), mean (SD) | 150 (28) |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg), mean (SD) | 83 (17) |
| Temperature (°C), mean (SD) | 37.1 (0.8) |
| Lung rales | 60 (49%) |
| Turgescent jugular vein | 13 (11%) |
| Signs of deep vein thrombosis | 1 (1%) |
| Signs of chronic venous insufficiency | 25 (21%) |
| Blood gas analyses | |
| PH, mean (SD) | 7.43 (0.06) |
| PaO2 (kPa), mean (SD) | 10.1 (6.3) |
| PaCO2 (kPa), mean (SD) | 6.1 (1.6) |
| Chest x ray | |
| Elevated hemidiaphragm | 6 (5%) |
| Band atelectasis | 10 (8%) |
| Cardiomegaly | 19 (15%) |
| Infiltrate (non-lobar) | 21 (17%) |
| Signs of heart failure | 4 (3%) |
| Abnormal ECG (right bundle branch/negative T wave/S1Q3) | 21 (17%) |