Effectiveness of a Multidisciplinary COPD Respiratory Unit (MUCOPD). A retrospective study.

<bold>Aim</bold>: The study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness of the Multidisciplinary COPD Unit (MUCOPD) at a secondary hospital in Mallorca, Spain, regarding emergency visits and admissions for COPD exacerbations among patients. <bold>Methods:</bold> The study employed a retrospective approach to analyze a cohort of patients identified as frequent exacerbators, all drawn from the MUCOPD database (Table 1). The initial analysis covered patients enrolled in MUCOPD from January 2015 to March 2022, with a sub-analysis focusing on 65 patients from January 2017 to March 2022. A comparison was conducted on hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and inpatient days for patients enrolled in MUCOPD three years before and three years after enrollment. In cases where a full three-year follow-up was unavailable, an equivalent period before and after enrollment was considered, provided it was equal to or longer than one year. <bold>Findings:</bold> Between 2015 and 2022, 79 patients were enrolled. Among them, 50.6% experienced fewer hospitalizations after joining MUCOPD, with a significant reduction in total admission days (p=0.005) (graph 1). Moreover, 54% visited the emergency room less frequently post-MUCOPD entry (p=0.034). Subsequently, analyzing 65 patients from 2017 to 2022 revealed that 57% had fewer hospital admissions after joining MUCOPD (p=0.001), with a decrease in total admission days (p=0.001). Additionally, 60% visited the emergency room less often post-MUCOPD entry, while 22% increased their visits (p=0.001) (graph 2). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> MUCOPD represents an effective model for decreasing hospitalization and emergency room visits in this group of patients, leading to corresponding economic savings.