Study of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Exacerbations In Spain

Patients will be followed for 12 months. Information to be collected includes clinical, analytical, immunological, microbiological, hemodynamic, imaging, environmental, social and other blood markers of inflammation (IL-8, IL-6, TNF, TNF-alpha, endothelin-1, SLPI, IL10, TGF-beta and markers oxidative stress (TEAC)), and sputum (cell count, IL-6, IL-8, SLPI, ET 1, IL10).

Each center will collect clinical data, blood gas, microbiological and functional data for their patients, which will be centralized through the website of the Red Respira (www.redrespira.net).

A frozen serum sample and another of frozen sputum supernatant will be sent to the coordinating center (Palma de Mallorca).

Statistical analysis will include descriptive statistics: mean, standard deviation and range. Comparison of quantitative variables to be assessed using Student's t-test and ANOVA. Correlations between variables will be performed using bivariate analyzes (Pearson's linear correlation coefficient) and multivariate (multiple regression) analyses, among others.

Inclusion criteria

• Men and women
• Ages 40-80 years
• Diagnosis of COPD (according to ATS/ERS consensus guidelines)
• Smoking history ≥ 10 pack years
• Hospitalization for exacerbation of COPD

Exclusion criteria

• Pneumonia.
• Pneumothorax.
• Severe comorbidities, such as:
• -Advanced cancer.
• -Pulmonary tuberculosis, which affects more than one third of the total lung parenchyma.
• -Pneumonectomy.
• -Previous diagnosis of left heart failure.
• -Cardiomyopathy with ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction <45%).
• -Chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, pulmonary fibrosis and autoimmune diseases.
• Mechanical Ventilation.
• Existence of an exacerbation of COPD in the 4 weeks prior to admission.
• MRSA.
• History of thoracic/lung surgery in the past two years
• General weakness/malaise (difficulty in walking, lack of autonomy, etc.). that substantially hinders participation in the study, regardless of their willingness to participate.
• Mental incapacity according to the investigator judgment.
• Not resident in the province in which the hospital is located.
• Not fluent in Spanish
• Allergy to iodinated contrast
• Morbid obesity (BMI> 40)