Purpose: The purpose of this research was to understand characteristics of patients with COPD who were discharged from hospitals in Southern Taiwan, a rural area. Data will be used to study factors that can predict rehospitalization in this population. Subjects: A convenience sample of 145 patients with COPD as a primary or secondary diagnosis was recruited from six local hospitals in the Pingtung area of southern Taiwan. Method: Demographic data of the participants were obtained by reviewing patients' hospital charts and interviews. Longitudinal phone follow-up will obtain rehospitalization information. Results: 106 males (73.1%) and 39 females with a mean age of 72.2 years participated. 76.6% were admitted to the hospitals through emergency service with exacerbated symptoms of COPD. The mean length of stay on the index hospitalization was 8.7±4.9 days (1-32 days) with 7 % having an admission to ICU. 57.8 % of them were married; ethnicity included: 54.7% Hokkiens; 25% Aborigines; 18.8% Mainlanders and 1.6% Hakkas. 18 (12.4%) subjects lived alone, and 27.6% of the patients did not have assistance for care. The average education was 4.1±3.9 years, and 35.2% had no formal education. 105 (72.4%) subjects had a smoking history (started at the earliest age of 9) and 20% remain active smokers; they had a mean 59.12 pack years (range: 5-168). 50% had a COPD history of more than five years, and >70% of the group reported moderate to very severe levels of dyspnea with 15.2% using oxygen after discharge. 72.4% had been hospitalized due to COPD in the previous year (range: 1-12 times). Conclusions: Patients with COPD in Southern Taiwan have risk factors of low educational levels; minority status; high smoking history, severe dyspnea, use of emergent care, and past rehospitalization episodes. Future research will further explore patient characteristics and rehospitalization occurring in this population in Taiwan.
Session #1223 - Graduate Student Poster Session
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)