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COVID-19 public health measures: a reduction in hospital admissions for COPD exacerbations
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  1. Jing Yuan Tan1,
  2. Edwin Philip Conceicao2,
  3. Liang En Wee3,
  4. Xiang Ying Jean Sim2,3,
  5. Indumathi Venkatachalam2,3
  1. 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
  2. 2 Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
  3. 3 Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
  1. Correspondence to Dr Jing Yuan Tan, Singapore General Hospital, 169608, Singapore; jingyuan.tan{at}mohh.com.sg

Abstract

Hospitalisations for acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) carry significant morbidity and mortality. Respiratory viral infections (RVIs) are the most common cause of AECOPD and are associated with worse clinical outcomes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health measures, such as social distancing and universal masking, were originally implemented to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2; these public health measures were subsequently also observed to reduce transmission of other common circulating RVIs. In this study, we report a significant and sustained decrease in hospital admissions for all AECOPD as well as RVI-associated AECOPD, which coincided with the introduction of public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • COPD exacerbations
  • viral infection

This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usage

https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2020-216083

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors JYT had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and accuracy of data analysis. Concept and design: LEIW, JYT, IV. Acquisition, analysis or interpretation of data: JYT, LEIW, EPC, Drafting of manuscript: JYT. Critical revision of manuscript for important intellectual content: LEIW, IV. Statistical analysis: JYT, EPC. Supervision: XYJS, IV.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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