Analysis of the three-year survival of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease depending on the presence or absence of a COVID-19 history

Abstract

   Aim.  To analyze three-year overall survival and mortality structure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) depending on the presence or absence of a history of COVID-19.    Materials and methods.  From 2021 to 2024, two groups of patients with COPD were under dynamic observation: Group 1 (n = 207) consisted of individuals with COPD who had previously suffered from COVID-19; Group 2 (n = 129) consisted of patients with COPD without a history of COVID-19. The follow-up checkpoints were: initial examination, and examinations at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months from the time of inclusion in the study. Statistical analysis was performed using STATISTICA 13.0 software.    Results.  During the observation period (36 months), the total number of deaths in both groups amounted to 22.4 %. It was revealed that 12-month survival did not differ significantly between the groups (p > 0.05), whereas 36-month survival in Group 1 was significantly lower than in Group 2 by 10.0 % (p < 0.05). The mean observation time in Group 1 was reduced by 2.5 months compared to Group 2 (p < 0.01). The maximum differences in survival levels between the groups were established in the 18–24 month period. Furthermore, it was found that a history of COVID-19 in patients with COPD increased the relative risk of death within 3 years by 1.75 times (p < 0.05). The structure of mortality did not differ significantly between the groups; the leading causes of death in both groups were heart diseases, neoplasms, and COPD.    Conclusion.  A history of COVID-19 in patients with COPD significantly reduces three-year survival rates and increases the risk of long-term mortality, indicating the need to optimize the dispensary monitoring program for this category of patients.