[Retrospective analysis of direct costs of hospital treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations].

A one-year retrospective analysis of 175 cases of COPD exacerbation was conducted. A relationship was established between expenses, on the one side, age, smoking habit and pulmonary function tests results, on the other. The mean direct expenditure for hospital treatment of COPD exacerbation per person amounted to PLN 2374.9 +/- (1040.7) (PLN 1690.8 +/- 581.8 for exacerbation of mild COPD, PLN 2221.9 +/- 815.9 for exacerbation of moderate COPD and PLN 2961.4 +/- 1345.9 for exacerbation of severe COPD). A significant relationship was found between the costs of drugs and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1%) and forced vital capacity (FVC%) (accordingly r = -0.19 and r = -0.26; p < or = 0.05). Smoking habit had significant influence on the costs of therapy only in men (r = 0.22; p < or = 0.05). Age did not have serious influence on the costs. The direct costs of COPD exacerbations in women were significantly higher than in men (accordingly: PLN 2723.3 +/- 1209.9 and 2206.7 +/- 906.9; p = 0.005). Pulmonary function test results, severity of disease and female sex are relevant factors influencing the direct costs of hospital treatment of COPD exacerbations.