Changes over time in treatment patterns and health care resource utilization in patients with COPD: Real-World data from a large health maintenance organization

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide and is associated with increased costs.ObjectivesTo assess treatment patterns, comorbidities and health care resource utilization (HCRU) in a large COPD patient population, with specific attention to changes over time.MethodsA retrospective study of patients with COPD, using the computerized database of a large health maintenance organization. Treatment patterns with inhaled drug (corticosteroids {ICS}, long-acting beta agonists {LABA} and long-acting muscarinic antagonists {LAMA}) were analyzed during 2015-2021. Prevalent patients with COPD in 2021 were matched with patients from the general population.ResultsWe identified 43,778 patients with a first (new) diagnosis of COPD during 2001-2020. The mean age was 60.6 years (±12.0), 56.6% were males and 55.2% were diagnosed by a pulmonologist. Spirometry tests results were available in 21.4% of patients. The proportion of patients treated with any inhaled drugs was relatively unchanged between 2015 and 2021 (48.6-51.6%). ICS with LABA was the most frequently used treatment but decreased from 50.3% in 2015 to 43.6% in 2021, while triple therapy increased, from 18.6% in 2015 to 25.4% in 2021. Compared to the general population, patients with COPD were more likely to be smokers, obese, have more comorbidities and increased HCRU.ConclusionsOur study provides real-world data on clinical features, treatment patterns and co-morbidities in COPD patients and shows changes in trends over time. This data may be useful to identify patients with COPD, to allow for improved targeted interventions, improved guideline-based treatment choices, and improved COPD control.