Journal List > Tuberc Respir Dis > v.60(5) > 1000946

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Kim, Hong, Shim, Lim, Lee, Koh, Kim, Kim, Kim, and Oh: Cause of Death in COPD Patients of a Referral Hospital
Original Article
Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2006; 60(5): 510-515.

Published online: 31 May 2006

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2006.60.5.510

Cause of Death in COPD Patients of a Referral Hospital

Beom Jun Kim, M.D., Sang Bum Hong, M.D., Tae Sun Shim, M.D., Chae Man Lim, M.D., Sang Do Lee, M.D., Younsuck Koh, M.D., Woo Sung Kim, M.D., Dong-Soon Kim, M.D., Won Dong Kim, M.D., Yeon-Mok Oh, M.D.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Research Center for Chronic Obstructive Airway Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Address for correspondence : Yeon-Mok Oh, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, College of Medicine University of Ulsan, 388-1 Pungnap-dong, Sonpa-gu, Seoul (zip 138-736), South Korea. Phone: 82-2-3010-3136, Fax: 82-2-3010-6968, ymoh55@amc.seoul.kr

Received 2 February 2006       Accepted 28 April 2006

Copyright © 2006 The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

Abstract

Background

Although 17% of Korean adults over the age of 45 years have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is only limited data on the cause of death in COPD patients in Korea. Therefore, this retrospective study was performed to examine the cause of death in COPD patients at a referral hospital in Korea.

Methods

The medical records of 28 deceased patients diagnosed as COPD in Asan Medical Center from January to December 2003 were reviewed patients had died in Asan Medical Center and 16 patients had died outside the hospital. The Korean National Statistical Office confirmed 88 deceased patients out of 1,078 patients diagnosed as COPD in Asan Medical Center in 2003. After excluding those with tuberculous destroyed lung, bronchiectasis, and lung cancer, 28 COPD patients were evaluated.

Results

The causes of death were pulmonary disease including pneumonia in 16 patients (57%), cardiac disease in 5 patients (18%), sudden death in 3 patients (11%), and other causes in 4 patients (14%). The cause of death was pulmonary disease in 83% (10 out of 12 patients) and 38% (6 out of 16 patients) of patients who died in Asan Medical Center and outside the center, respectively (P=0.05). The cause of death was pulmonary disease in 43% of patients with FEV1 more than 50% of the predicted value and in 55% of patients with FEV1 less than 50% of the predicted value (P=0.89).

Conclusion

Pulmonary disease is the leading cause of death in COPD patients in Korea.

Keywords: COPD, Cause, Death

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Cause of death in patients with diagnosis of COPD Each bar represents the percentage of each cause of death in the patients who were diagnosed as having COPD in the Asan Medical Center in 2003.
trd-60-510-g001
Figure 2
Cause of death according to death in or outside the Asan Medical Center
In AMC represents death in the Asan Medical Center; Outside AMC represents death outside the Asan Medical Center. Numbers on the perimeter of graphs represent the number of death due to each cause. Comparison between death In AMC and death Outside AMC; Fisher's exact test, P=0.05
trd-60-510-g002
Table 1
Subject characteristics
trd-60-510-i001

*In AMC death represents death in the Asan Medical Center; Outside AMC death represents death outside the Asan Medical Center.

†mean±standard deviation

Table 2
Cause of death according to COPD severity
trd-60-510-i002

Comparison between patients with FEV1≥ 50% Pred. and patients with FEV1< 50% Pred.; Fisher's exact test, P=0.89

Notes

Supported by a grant from the Korean Health 21 R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (0412-CR03-0704-0001)

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