Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who contracted COVID-19 face significantly higher risks of death and acute exacerbation compared with non-infected patients, according to a new study. Researchers said patients who experienced severe COVID-19 require intensive monitoring, as the risks are concentrated in the early stages of recovery.
The National Institute of Health under the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced Tuesday that a nationwide analysis using big data from the National Health Insurance Service found COPD patients who contracted COVID-19 had a 1.8-fold higher risk of death and a 1.4-fold higher risk of acute exacerbation compared with non-infected patients.
COPD is a representative chronic respiratory disease that causes repeated difficulty breathing and chronic coughing as the airways narrow. The study found that the risk was even greater for severe COVID-19 patients who required hospitalization or respiratory support. COPD patients who experienced severe COVID-19 had a 5.1-fold higher risk of death and up to a 3-fold higher risk of acute exacerbation compared with non-infected patients.
The increase in risk was particularly concentrated within the first 30 days of COVID-19 recovery. Researchers explained that during the first 30 days after recovery, the risk of death increased by up to 20-fold, and the risk of severe acute exacerbation requiring hospitalization or emergency room visits rose by more than 8-fold.
The study was based on two long-term follow-up studies of COPD patients who had recovered from COVID-19. The first study analyzed 2,499 recovered COVID-19 patients and found a mortality rate of 4.8 percent, significantly higher than the 2.7 percent of the control group. The second study analyzed 2,118 recovered COVID-19 patients to confirm the increased risk of acute exacerbation.
The researchers emphasized the need for intensive care for COPD patients after COVID-19. "Vaccination to prevent COVID-19 is important for COPD patients," said Professor Moon Ji-yong, the principal investigator. "Acute exacerbations and changes in health status should be closely monitored for at least 30 days after infection." He added, "Patients who experienced severe COVID-19 in particular should actively consider respiratory rehabilitation therapy in the early stages of recovery and check for acute exacerbation early through regular outpatient care for at least three to six months."
Kim Won-ho, director of the Division of Chronic Disease Convergence Research at the National Institute of Health, said, "This study numerically confirmed that COVID-19 can affect the long-term prognosis of COPD patients." He added, "Careful monitoring by medical staff is needed during the first 180 days after recovery."
