Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with increased long-term mortality following extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Aim: Information on predisposing risk factors influencing long-term survival after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support remains scarce. In critically ill patients chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an independent risk factor for mortality and morbidity. We assessed the influence of COPD on cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients undergoing ECMO therapy. Methods: We prospectively included 191 patients undergoing veno-arterial ECMO therapy following cardiovascular surgery at a university-affiliated tertiary care center into our registry. Results: The median follow-up time was 51 months (IQR 34– 71 months) for corresponding to 4197 overall months of follow-up. 125 patients (65%) died, 88% of deaths were due to cardiovascular causes. Long-term survival was decreased in patients with COPD after 1 year (23% vs. 44%) and after 6 years (14% vs. 35%) compared to patients without COPD (figure 1). COPD was independently associated with all-cause mortality with a hazard ratio of 4.82 (95% CI 1.13-20.50, p=0.033) and cardiovascular mortality with a hazard ratio of 6.88 (95% CI 1.57–30.15, p=0.011). ![Figure][1] Figure 1. COPD and CV mortality Conclusions: We identified COPD as a strong and independent predictor of long-term all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in patients undergoing ECMO therapy following cardiovascular surgery. The current study presents valuable information for a comprehensive decision-making process prior to ECMO implantation and helps to identify high-risk patients that may benefit from intensified treatment of co-morbidities and close check-ups after hospital discharge. [1]: pending:yes