AUTHOR=Zuo Yi-hui , Wang Wei-qin , Chen Qi-jian , Liu Bin , Zhang Feng-ying , Jin Xiao-yan , Hang Jing-qing , Li Hua-yin , Bao Zhi-yao , Jie Zhi-jun , Wang Gui-fang , Gao Xi-wen , Sun He , Xu Jin-fu , Zhang Jing , Qu Jie-ming 

TITLE=Candida in Lower Respiratory Tract Increases the Frequency of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Retrospective Case-Control Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2020.538005

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2020.538005

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> To explore impact of <italic>Candida</italic> on the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) outcome.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> A retrospective, multi-center, case-control study was performed. Patients hospitalized for AECOPD in 25 centers during Jan 2011–Dec 2016 were enrolled. Data were collected, including demographic information, conditions during the stable phase of COPD, clinical characteristics of AECOPD, and follow-up information within 1 year after discharge. Univariate analysis and binary logistic regression were applied, and <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05 was regarded as significant.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Totally 1,103 patients were analyzed, with 644 lower respiratory airway (LTR) <italic>Candida</italic> positive cases and 459 <italic>Candida</italic> negative controls. Long-term prognosis was significantly different between <italic>Candida</italic> positive and negative group, including the recurrent AECOPD within 180 days (75.5 vs. 6.6%, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) and mortality within 1 year (6.9 vs. 0.4%, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Univariate logistic analysis showed that LTR <italic>Candida</italic> isolation was related to higher recurrence rate of AECOPD within 180 days and mortality within 1 year. Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that LTR <italic>Candida</italic> isolation was independently associated with recurrence of AECOPD within 180 days.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> LTR <italic>Candida</italic> isolation was associated with worse long-term prognosis of AECOPD and independently related to higher risks of recurrent AECOPD within 180 days.</p>