Predictors of permanent detachment from the workforce after acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Background: Approximately 60% of patients with COPD, between the age of 18-65, are outside the workforce. The existing information on workforce detachment predisposition in COPD patients is limited.Aim: To examine characteristics of patients with permanent detachment from the workforce after first hospitalization with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD).Method: This nationwide retrospective cohort study examined patients admitted to hospital between 1999 and 2014 with AECOPD. Included patients were between 35-59 year and follow-up was 3 years. Danish registries were combined to gather information on age, sex, public support, education, civil status, comorbidities and medication use. Cox regression model was used to determine covariates’ effect on patients’ early permanent detachment from the workforce.Results: The analysis included 3,245 patients’ with 438 events of early detachment from the workforce and 203 patients dying during the 3 year follow-up. Covariates significantly associated with detachment from the workforce include age, emphysema, use of inhaled medicine and living alone. Covariates protective of early detachment include lower age and longer education (see fig. 1).Conclusion: This study identify prognostic factors of early detachment from the workforce that might guide rehabilitation.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 423.This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).