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=Volume 10 - 2020 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=Objective: To explore impact of Candida on the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) outcome. Methods: A retrospective, multi-center, case-control study was performed. Patients hospitalized for AECOPD in 25 centers during Jan 2011 – Dec 2016 were enrolled, data including demographic information, conditions during the stable phase of COPD, clinical characteristics of AECOPD and follow-up information within 1 year after discharge were collected. Univariate analysis and binary logistic regression were applied, p < 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Totally 1103 patients were analyzed, with 644 LTR Candida positive cases and 459 Candida negative controls. Long-term prognosis was significantly different between Candida positive and negative group, including the recurrent AECOPD within 180 days (75.5% vs 6.6%, p < 0.001) and mortality within 1 year (6.9% vs 0.4%, p < 0.001). Univariate logistic analysis showed that LTR Candida isolation was related to higher recurrence rate of AECOPD within 180 days and mortality within 1 year. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that LTR Candida isolation was independently associated with recurrence of AECOPD within 180 days. Conclusions: LTR Candida isolation was associated with worse long-term prognosis of AECOPD and strongly, independently related to higher possibility of recurrent AECOPD within 180 days.