STUDY OF FACTORS OTHER THAN DISEASE SEVERITY WHICH INFLUENCE OUTCOMES OF OBSTRUCTIVE AIRWAY DISEASE PATIENTS IN THE RICU

Abstract

Obstructive Airway Diseases (OAD) include COPD, Bronchial Asthma, Bronchiectasis , Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiolitis and are characterised by recurrent exacerbations and remissions of cough and breathlessness with diminished expiratory airflow, and Spirometrically characterised decreased FEV1 , FEV1/FVC ratio and FEF25-75 %. 3 to 20 % of the above patients have at least one hospitalisation in a year and around 12 % of these hospitalised patients require transfer to RICU for higher levels of care