National audit of supported discharge programmes for management of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2008

• Published in: Thorax Vol. 67; no. 4; pp. 371 - 373
• Main Authors: Kastelik, Jack A, Lowe, Derek, Stone, Robert A, Buckingham, Rhona J, Roberts, C Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Thoracic Society 01.04.2012; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; College admissions; COPD epidemiology; COPD exacerbations; COPD pharmacology; emphysema; Female; Guideline Adherence; Hospitals; Humans; Length of Stay - statistics & numerical data; Male; Medical Audit; Medical sciences; Mortality; Patient Discharge; Patients; Pneumology; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - mortality; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - physiopathology; Rehabilitation; Risk Factors; United Kingdom - epidemiology; University colleges; Ventilation; Lung disease; Audit; Clinical management; Support; Respiratory disease; Acute; Bronchus disease; Anesthesia; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Circulatory system; Cardiology; Discharge
• ISSN: 0040-6376; 1468-3296
• DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2011-200884

The 2008 UK national chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) audit examined the use of supported discharge programmes (SDPs) in clinical practice against British Thoracic Society guidelines. 98% of acute UK trusts participated. SDPs were available in 142 of 239 (59%) units. 1630 of 8971 (18%) patients with COPD were treated within SDPs. Median (IQR) stay in hospital for patients within SDPs and those not accepted for SDPs was 3 (1–6) days and 6 (3–11) days (p<0.001), and mortality within 90 days of admission was 4.3% and 6.7%, respectively. SDPs within the UK are safe and effective and reduce length of hospital stay without adverse effects on mortality.