Rationale: Patients hospitalized with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who require supplemental oxygen (O2) are at increased risk of hospital readmissions. There is a paucity of information regarding quality of evaluation and documentation regarding the need for supplemental O2 in this population. Objective: To determine the extent to which evaluation and documentation regarding the need for supplemental O2 occurs prior to hospital discharge in patients with COPD. Methods: We conducted a two-center retrospective cohort study of hospitalized adults with a physician diagnosis of COPD. We reviewed electronic health records to ascertain whether patients underwent evaluation beyond rest oximetry documenting hypoxemia and if there was adequate documentation of supplemental O2 requirements prior to discharge. Results: Of 526 patients hospitalized with a primary or secondary discharge diagnosis of COPD, 335 patients (mean age 69 years, 78% with diagnosis of COPD exacerbation) met eligibility criteria. Overall, 1 in 5 (22%, 73/335) hospitalized patients with COPD had an evaluation beyond rest oximetry for supplemental O2 requirements during admission. Adequate documentation of supplemental O2 requirements occurred in even fewer patients (16%, 54/335). Both evaluation (26% versus 5%, p=0.002) and documentation (19% versus 4%, p=0.001) of supplemental O2 requirements were more common in patients hospitalized for a COPD exacerbation compared to those hospitalized with COPD but without an exacerbation. Conclusions: Evaluation and documentation of supplemental O2 requirements beyond rest oximetry occur infrequently in patients hospitalized with COPD.
Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; copd; hospitalization; quality of care; readmission; supplemental oxygen.