Examining the relationship between anxiety and depression and exacerbations of COPD which result in hospital admission: a systematic review

This review paper examines the relationship between anxiety and depression and hospitalization for a COPD exacerbation. The authors report that the vast majority of the included studies show depression and anxiety increasing hospitalization rates; length of stay and risk of mortality after discharge were also shown to increase. Of note is the estimate that only 27%-33% of patients in these studies were receiving pharmacologic treatment for anxious or depressive symptoms (non-pharmacologic treatment was not addressed). A discussion of qualitative data on anxiety and depression and their impact on quality of life and functioning is also included.