After COPD exacerbation, living in the woods was a risk factor for death

Among ~26,000 patients discharged from 129 VA hospitals for COPD exacerbation, those living in isolated rural areas had a 5.0% 30-day mortality, compared to 3.8% for those living in urban areas. Those in not-so-isolated rural areas didn't seem to be at elevated risk, report Abrams et al. Ann Intern Med 2011;155:80-86.