Source: International Congress 2015 – Best abstracts in chronic care
Disease area: Airway diseases

Abstract

Background: Chronic sputum production occurs in a subset of COPD patients although its clinical relevance has not been established. Also, differences in symptoms, health status (HS) and other clinical outcomes between patients with and without positive sputum cultures are unknown.Objective: Compare clinical characteristics and HS of spontaneous sputum producers with a positive culture (SSP), a negative culture (SSN) and non-producers (NSS) in a cohort of COPD patients during pre-rehabilitation (PR) assessment.Methods: 518 stable COPD patients were comprehensively assessed before PR (55.6% males, age 64.1±9.1y, FEV₁ 48.6±20.0%pred). HS was measured with CAT, symptoms were assessed using a symptom checklist score and HADS. Differences between groups were investigated by univariate analysis and Post Hoc-test.Results: 31.7% of patients spontaneously produced sputum (n=164). Despite comparable lung function, SSP reported more frequent exacerbations than NSS. CAT scores were significantly higher in SSP compared to NSS. Sputum producers reported higher cough scores. HADS-D scores were significantly higher in SSP than NSS (table 1).



Conclusion: Chronic sputum production is common in COPD. Particularly patients with a positive culture have worse HS and more symptoms of cough and depression. Impact on disease progression and long-term outcomes remain to be established.Funding: Lung Foundation Netherlands (3.4.10.015) and GSK (SCO115406).


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Dionne Braeken (Valkenburg a/d Geul, Netherlands), D.C.W. Braeken, S. Wilke, D.E. Smid, G.G.U. Rohde, J.J.C. Drijkoningen, E.F.M. Wouters, M.A. Spruit, F.M.E. Franssen. Clinical characteristics and health status of spontaneous sputum producers in COPD. Eur Respir J 2015; 46: Suppl. 59, 3061

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