Mortality, seasonal variation, and susceptibility to acute exacerbation of COPD in the pandemic year : a nationwide population study

Šarc, Irena (author), Lotrič Dolinar, Aleša (author), Morgan, Tina (author), Sambt, Jože (author), Ziherl, Kristina (author), Gavrić, Dalibor (author), Šelb, Julij (author), Rozman, Aleš (author), Došenović Bonča, Petra (author)

Background: Previous studies have suggested that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was associated with a decreased rate of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Data on how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced mortality, seasonality of, and susceptibility to AECOPD in the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) population is scarce. Methods: We conducted a national population-based retrospective study using data from the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia from 2015 to February 2021, with 2015–2019 as the reference. We extracted patient and healthcare data for AECOPD, dividing AECOPD into severe, resulting in hospitalisation, and moderate, requiring outpatient care. The national COPD population was generated based on dispensed prescriptions of inhalation therapies, and moderate AECOPD events were analysed based on dispensed AECOPD medications. We extracted data on all-cause and non-COVID mortality. Results: The numbers of severe and moderate AECOPD were reduced by 48% and 34%, respectively, in 2020. In the pandemic year, the seasonality of AECOPD was reversed, with a 1.5-fold higher number of severe AECOPD in summer compared to winter. The proportion of frequent exacerbators (2 AECOPD hospitalisations per year) was reduced by 9% in 2020, with a 30% reduction in repeated severe AECOPD in frequent exacerbators and a 34% reduction in persistent frequent exacerbators (2 AECOPD hospitalisations per year for 2 consecutive years) from 2019. The risk of two or more moderate AECOPD decreased by 43% in 2020. In the multivariate model, pandemic year follow-up was the only independent factor associated with a decreased risk for severe AECOPD (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61–0.84; p < 0.0001). In 2020, non-COVID mortality decreased (−15%) and no excessive mortality was observed in the COPD population. Conclusion: In the pandemic year, we found decreased susceptibility to AECOPD across severity spectrum of COPD, reversed seasonal distribution of severe AECOPD and decreased non-COVID mortality in the COPD population.

• Language: English
• Keywords: exacerbation, acute exacerbation, seasonal variations, population study, COPD, COVID-19 pandemic, seasonality
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine; EF - School of Economics and Business
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: Str. 1-15
• Numbering: Vol. 16
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-135702
• UDC: 616.2
• ISSN on article: 1753-4658
• DOI: 10.1177/17534666221081047
• COBISS.SI-ID: 100243459
• Publication date in RUL: 29.03.2022

ŠARC, Irena, LOTRIČ DOLINAR, Aleša, MORGAN, Tina, SAMBT, Jože, ZIHERL, Kristina, GAVRIĆ, Dalibor, ŠELB, Julij, ROZMAN, Aleš and DOŠENOVIĆ BONČA, Petra, 2022, Mortality, seasonal variation, and susceptibility to acute exacerbation of COPD in the pandemic year : a nationwide population study. Therapeutic advances in respiratory disease [online]. 2022. Vol. 16, p. 1–15. [Accessed 31 March 2025]. DOI 10.1177/17534666221081047. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=135702

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Therapeutic advances in respiratory disease
• Shortened title: Ther. adv. respir. dis.
• Publisher: Sage
• ISSN: 1753-4658
• COBISS.SI-ID: 514982169

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
• Description: A creative commons license that bans commercial use, but the users don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.
• Licensing start date: 07.03.2022

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: poslabšanje, akutno poslabšanje, sezonska nihanja, populacijska raziskava