Audit reveals that COPD most common cause of all hospital readmissions

Care of patients with chronic lung conditions is improving but there are still significant deficiencies that need addressing, according to the world’s largest clinical audit of chronic (COPD) obstructive pulmonary disease patients, run by the Royal College of Physicians. Data from almost 75,000 hospital admissions shows that more patients than ever are being seen by a specialist respiratory team €“ proven to reduce the risk of dying from COPD. However, patients are still not getting the best possible care, with large numbers still not being provided help to stop smoking or having previous spirometry results available. According to the report, 75% of patients