Study of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Exacerbations In Spain
Study of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Exacerbations In Spain
ECOS is a cross-sectional, observational, longitudinal, multicenter study enrolling 100-200
 patients during a COPD exacerbation.
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)