OBJECTIVES: To describe demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and exacerbations in a cohort of patients with COPD in Chile.

METHODS: Retrospective cohort study using INTEGRAMEDICA (a network of ambulatory medical centers) electronic medical records of patients with COPD aged ≥40 years at index with data available one year before (baseline) and after (follow-up) index. Index date was fixed at 28-Feb-2019 to avoid including data from the COVID-19 pandemic. Moderate and severe exacerbations were defined as prescription of systemic corticosteroid/antibiotics and emergency visit/hospitalization, respectively.

RESULTS: In total, 19,000 patients were included. In the baseline period, 86% (n=16,400) had no moderate or severe exacerbations (NMSE), 13% (n=2,503) had only moderate exacerbations (OME) and <1% (n=96) had ≥1 severe exacerbation (SEV). Mean age/proportion of females was: 64 years/60% (total cohort), 65 years/59% (NMSE), 61 years/67% (OME) and 73 years/62% (SEV). The four most frequent comorbidities were: hypertension (total: 17.6%; NMSE: 16.2%; OME: 26.0%; SEV: 24.0%), asthma (total: 8.9%; NMSE: 7.8%; OME: 15.3%; SEV: 17.7%), diabetes type 1/2 (total: 6.3%; NMSE: 5.9%; OME: 9.1%; SEV: 7.3%) and congestive heart failure (total: 3.2%; NMSE: 3.2%; OME: 2.9%; SEV: 4.2%). The proportion of patients with ≥1 moderate/severe exacerbation during follow-up was 14% (total), 10% (NMSE), 38% (OME) and 35% (SEV). The severe exacerbation rate was 2.00 per 1,000 person-years in the overall population and increased based on exacerbation history (NMSE: 0.91; OME: 1.60; SEV: 197.92)

CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results indicate that severe exacerbations were more frequent in patients with a history of SEV compared with patients with a history of OME or NMSE. In addition, comorbidities were more frequent in patients with a history of exacerbation. To improve patient health outcomes, strategies with a multisectoral approach should be prioritized as COPD can coexist with, and be aggravated by, other chronic comorbidities.

Funding: GSK [209968].