Category Ranking
98%
Total Visits
921
Avg Visit Duration
2 minutes
Citations
20
Article Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and related public health restrictions have substantially altered healthcare access and delivery, particularly for patients with chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on COPD-related symptoms and hospital admissions, and to compare these outcomes with the pre-pandemic period.
Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2021 and February 2022 across ten tertiary pulmonary outpatient clinics in Turkey. A total of 347 COPD patients were included. Data on demographics, spirometry, symptom progression, medication access, COVID-19 history, and hospital admissions were collected via structured questionnaire and medical records. Pandemic-related outcomes were compared with data from the pre-pandemic year (March 2019-March 2020). Additional multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of hospital admission and COVID-19-related hospitalization.
Results: The mean number of hospital admissions significantly decreased during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period (p < 0.001), while patient-reported respiratory symptoms increased over time. Hospital admissions were lowest during the first pandemic period, when restrictions were most intense. Regression analyses showed that lower FEV₁, advanced GOLD stage, and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use were independently associated with increased hospital admissions. COVID-19 was diagnosed in 21.1% of patients. Lower FEV₁, GOLD stage, and smoking were significantly associated with COVID-19-related hospitalization.
Conclusion: Although COPD-related hospital admissions decreased during the pandemic, respiratory symptoms progressively worsened. These findings reflect the complex interplay between public health measures, healthcare accessibility, and chronic disease management. Disease severity and airflow limitation were key determinants of adverse outcomes. Maintaining access to routine care and adopting personalized approaches in COPD management are essential during public health emergencies.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12398964 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03883-8 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Evaluating the Effect of a Molecular Point-of-Care Test on Acute Respiratory Infections in General Practice: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Trial.
JMIR Res Protoc
September 2025
Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark.
Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are frequent reasons for medical consultations in general practice and can lead to unnecessary recontacts. Introducing new point-of-care (POC) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic equipment may offer an attractive and efficient way of providing a more precise and exact microbial diagnosis. Successful uptake of POC PCR equipment could potentially lead to a reduction in recontacts with benefits for both staff and patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn 2019, Brigham and Women's Hospital Department of Medicine (BWH-DOM) established the Health Equity Innovation Pilot (HEIP) program to fund grants led by BWH-DOM faculty members that aimed to address inequities in hospital-based care delivery or outcomes. One-year grants of up to $40,000 total were cofunded by this BWH-DOM program and by the applicant's BWH-DOM division to support health equity research or care innovation interventions. Recipients participated in a learning collaborative, which included community-building, health equity research and advocacy-related educational sessions, and midterm and final presentations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA prospective, multicenter study of invasive fungal disease caused by molds in children and adults in Chile.
PLoS One
September 2025
Chilean Invasive Mycosis Network, Santiago, Chile.
Background: Invasive mold diseases (IMDs) are a severe complication of immunocompromised subjects and an emerging problem among severely ill, apparently immunocompetent patients. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of IMDs in Chile.
Methods: Prospective study of IMD cases in children and adults from 11 reference hospitals in Chile from May 2019 to May 2021.
Treatment outcomes and risk factors for severity and mortality in Clostridioides difficile infection: a single-center study in Thailand.
J Infect Dev Ctries
August 2025
Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Phramongkutklao Hospital and Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
Introduction: Clostridioides difficile often causes hospital-acquired diarrhea, leading to unfavorable treatment outcomes. This study investigates CDI treatment outcomes and factors affecting severity and mortality at a university hospital in Thailand.
Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted from June 2019 to December 2021.
The characteristics of the cases with brain abscess and the analysis of the predictive factors for poor outcome.
J Infect Dev Ctries
August 2025
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Health Sciences University Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
Introduction: To evaluate the characteristics of patients who have undergone surgical operations due to brain abscess and to assess the risk factors for mortality and the outcomes.
Methodology: Patients who have undergone surgical operations due to brain abscess between January 2014 and January 2024 in our hospital were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into 2 groups to determine poor outcome predictive factors.