ArticleBMC pulmonary medicine2026
Pleth variability index as a non-invasive prognostic indicator in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Article in BMC pulmonary medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundEarly risk stratification in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbations is essential for effective management. The Pleth Variability Index (PVI), a non-invasive parameter derived from photoplethysmographic waveforms, has been evaluated in various clinical settings; however, its relevance to COPD exacerbation severity in adults remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the association between admission PVI values and COPD exacerbation severity, hospital admission, and 30-day mortality.
methodsThis prospective, single-center study was conducted in a tertiary hospital between September 2023 and September 2024 with ethics approval. Adults (≥ 18 years) with COPD exacerbation were included, while those with cardiac or other pulmonary conditions, or factors affecting PVI, were excluded. PVI was measured non-invasively at admission and 2 h post-treatment using the Masimo Root device. Clinical data, laboratory results, outcomes, and 30-day mortality were recorded. COPD exacerbation severity was classified according to the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), and patients were grouped by their outcomes. Analyses included Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, correlation, and regression models.
resultsOf 204 patients, 131 were included (mean age 70.6 ± 10.5; 77.1% male). Exacerbations were mild in 23 (17.6%), moderate in 49 (37.4%), and severe in 59 (45.0%). The median PVI was 42% at admission and 27% post-treatment (p < 0.001), with higher values observed in patients with more severe cases. 34 (25.9%) discharged, 38 (29.0%) admitted to ward, 59 (45.0%) to Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and 17 (13.0%) died. ICU and mortality groups had higher admission PVI. A baseline PVI > 40 predicted severe exacerbation (AUC = 0.828), ICU admission (AUC = 0.867), and mortality (AUC = 0.774). PVI correlated negatively with oxygen saturation and pH, positively with Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide (pCO₂), and was an independent predictor of ICU admission and 30-day mortality.
conclusionPVI emerges as a valuable parameter in predicting exacerbation severity, hospital admission, and mortality in COPD exacerbations. With non-invasive and rapidly measurable advantages, PVI can be utilized as a complementary prognostic tool in triage and treatment processes in the emergency department.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.