Evaluation of DECAF, CURB-65 and BAP-65 scales as predictor of mortality risk in acute exacerbation of COPD in a retrospective cohort

Introduction: Exacerbations of Cronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) cause a nocive effect on the evolution of the disease and is related with higher risk of hospitalization and death. Objetive: Determine the validity of DECAF, CURB-65 and BAP-65 scales to predict mortality risk in patients admitted due to COPD exacerbation. Material and Methods: Retrospective cohorts study by systematic review of medical records of patients with COPD exacerbation at the Clinical Hospital of Jaen (Spain). Inclusion criteria: spirometric diagnosis of COPD and hospital admittance as exacerbation of COPD. Readmission or any other cause of admission were excluded. The accuracy of the different studied scales was compared in order to determine the best results predicting mortality based on the determination of ROC curve. Results: Were recruited 164 patients, 153 men with medium age of 76.14 years (±9.7). Died 33 patients (19%). The sample was distributed along the different scales as next table shows: CONCLUSION: CURB-65 scale was the scale with higher sensibility (93.4%) to predict mortality, being an easy and accurate tool at the initial approach of COPD acute exacerbation. The rest of scales have a good accuracy range in our study.