Publication date: May 26, 2026
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) significantly impacts patients’ quality of life and healthcare systems, especially among socio-economically deprived populations. Hospitalisations due to COPD exacerbations are critical events, often indicating declining health and higher mortality risk. This study examines the incidence and outcomes of COPD hospitalisations in National Health Service (NHS) Greater Glasgow and Clyde from 2015 to 2022, with a focus on socio-economic inequalities and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospitalisation trends. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using routinely collected hospital episode data, linked to mortality records, for a population of 1. 2 million. Incident COPD hospitalisations were identified via International Classification of Diseases version 10 (ICD-10) codes, with no prior hospital admission in the preceding three years. Recurrent hospitalisations were those occurring within 3 years of the discharge of an incident event. We employed negative binomial regression to analyse hospital admission rates and Cox regression for time to recurrent hospitalisation and mortality outcomes, adjusting for demographic and comorbidity factors and testing for interactions with socio-economic status. Before getting the study sample, data linkage was done by the oGRE analyst team. From 2015-2022, 8,852 incident COPD hospitalisations were recorded. The mean patient age was 70 years, and 61% were female. Incident hospitalisation rates declined by 13-48% from 2017 onwards. Mortality following incident hospital admission increased post-2020 (HR for 2022 vs. 2015 = 1. 42, 95% CI 1. 19-1. 71). Recurrent hospitalisation rates declined significantly over the study period. Socio-economic inequalities were prominent, with the most deprived individuals experiencing higher hospitalisation and mortality rates. Our study highlights a reduction in COPD hospitalisations and recurrent admissions in recent years, potentially due to enhanced disease management strategies and pandemic-related healthcare changes. However, increased mortality post-hospitalisation and persistent socio-economic inequalities underscore the need for targeted interventions. Addressing these inequities through innovative care models and community-based support remains crucial to improving outcomes for patients with COPD.
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| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Hospitalisations | COVID-19 |
| Models | Hospitalisation |
| Pandemic | Recurrent admissions |
| Scotland |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | COPD |
| disease | MESH | NHS |
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 pandemic |
| disease | MESH | ICD |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Ibuprofen |
| pathway | REACTOME | Reproduction |
| disease | MESH | included |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Huperzine B |
| disease | MESH | lung inflammation |
| disease | MESH | breathlessness |
| disease | MESH | death |
| disease | MESH | long COVID |
| disease | MESH | recurrence |
| disease | MESH | Cerebrovascular disease |
| disease | MESH | Congestive Heart Failure |
| disease | MESH | Dementia |
| disease | MESH | Hemiplegia |
| disease | MESH | Malignancy |
| disease | MESH | Myocardial infarction |
| disease | MESH | liver disease |
| disease | MESH | Peptic ulcer |
| disease | MESH | Pulmonary disease |
| disease | MESH | Rheumatic disease |