Effect of compliance with GOLD treatment recommendations on COPD health care resource utilization, cost, and exacerbations among patients with COPD on maintenance therapy

Increased Herpes Zoster Risk With Inhaled Corticosteroid Use for Those With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

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Pharmaceutical treatment status of patients with COPD in the community based on medical Internet of Things: a real-world study

This study aimed to investigate the real-world standardisation and adherence of medical treatment regimens in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the community for making future management strategy. The follow-up data and treatment information of patients with COPD, which were collected through the Management Information Center of COPD (MICCOPD) in 21 community health service centres in Songjiang District, a countryside region of Shanghai. Concordance between the pharmaceutical treatment plan and recommendation of 2017 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) report during the follow-up management period, as well as the medication adherence by patients,were analysed. Out of the 2044 patients diagnosed with COPD, 814 patients (39.8%) who had an initial record of medication use were found to meet the inclusion criteria. The most common medication regimens were long-acting beta-agonist plus inhaled corticosteroids (35.9%) and oral bronchodilators (41.9%). Among these 814 patients, 45.7%, 38.0%, 31.6% and 14.6% adhered to the treatment after 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up, respectively. The concordance rate with the regimens recommended by the 2017 GOLD guidelines was 35.5% at baseline, 35.5% at 6 months, 32.7% at 12 months, 35.4% at 18 months and 37% at 24 months. The compliance and guideline consistency rates of patients with COPD in the community under the management of general practitioners need to be improved. Enhancing general practitioner proficiency in the prevention and management of COPD and increasing patient awareness of the condition, are crucial standardising and improving adherence to initial and follow-up COPD treatments.

The 2021 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (GOLD) guidelines and the outpatient management: Examining physician adherence and its effects on patient outcome

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common preventable illness that carries a large global economic and social burden. The global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) guidelines has been utilized as a global strategy for the continued COPD diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. We aimed to determine if the adherence to the 2021 GOLD guideline directed management influenced outcomes.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective medical records review of adult patients with COPD, who received care in our office during the entire year of 2021. Patients managed as per the 2021 GOLD guidelines were compared with those who received usual care.

Results

Among 242 patients, 171 (70.7%) were GOLD management adherent (GA) and 71 (29.3%) were GOLD non-adherent (GNA). Certain comorbidities were associated with higher frequencies in the GA group, such as allergic rhinitis (63.2 vs. 18.3%; P < 0.001), coronary artery disease (55.9 vs. 38.0%; P = 0.011), GERD (63.2 vs. 32.4%; P < 0.001), anemia (38.6 vs. 19.7%; P = 0.004), malignancy (34.5 vs. 19.7%; P = 0.023), and immunodeficiency (12.3 vs. 1.4%; P = 0.007). There was no significant difference in the mortality between the GA and GNA groups (5.3 vs. 9.9%; P = 0.254). Although the frequency of number of exacerbations was greater in the GA group, the difference in the mean number of exacerbations was not statistically significant (0.39 ± 1.08 vs. 0.39 ± 1.14; P = 0.984).

Conclusion

We found no significant difference in the patient outcomes, such as number of exacerbations of COPD and mortality, when comparing the 2021 GOLD guideline adherent versus GOLD guideline non-adherent management of COPD.

Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2023 Guidelines Reviewed

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) report is an essential resource for all clinicians who strive to provide optimal care to patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). The annual report of GOLD makes few revisions and updates besides including data from the preceding year. At an interval, GOLD comes up with a significant modification in its guidelines, which is generally a major overhaul of the pre-existing guidelines. According to the latest 2023 updates, published in November 2022, there have been significant advancements made in the field of COPD. These include the development of more precise definitions for COPD and its exacerbations, the introduction of a new set of parameters to measure exacerbation severity, and updating the COPD assessment tool. Additionally, revisions have been made to the initial and follow-up treatment guidelines. The report also simplifies the treatment algorithm and sheds light on new findings that suggest the use of pharmacological triple therapy can reduce mortality rates. Furthermore, the report includes discussions on inhaler device selection and adherence to COPD medications. These improvements demonstrate a continued effort to enhance COPD treatment and management. Although there are some areas that could benefit from more detailed guidance and explanation, such as the proper utilization of blood eosinophil counts for treatment decisions, and the establishment of treatment protocols post-hospitalization, the latest modifications to the GOLD recommendations will undoubtedly aid healthcare providers in addressing any gaps in patient care. We aim to highlight key changes in the GOLD 2023 report and present a viewpoint about their potential implications in a real-world clinical scenario.

The Relationship among Patient Satisfaction, Patient Loyalty, and Compliance with Treatment

This study examined the relationship between patient loyalty and adherence to treatment and evaluated the mediating role of patient satisfaction in this relationship. This study consisted of 386 participants. Correlation and regression analyses were used. A low level of positive correlation was found between loyalty and compliance scores. It was determined that satisfaction did not mediate the relationship between loyalty and compliance. In addition, a moderately positive relationship was found between loyalty and satisfaction. It has been observed that patient loyalty can play a critical role in important health outcomes such as adherence to treatment and increasing satisfaction.

Clinical Management of COPD in the Real World: Can Studies Reveal Errors in Management and Pathways to Improve Patient Care?

Real world data comprise information on health care that is derived from multiple sources outside typical clinical research settings. This review focuses on what real world evidence tells us about problems with the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), problems with the initial and follow-up pharmacological and non-pharmacological management, problems with the management of exacerbations and problems with palliative care. Data from real world studies show errors in the management of COPD with delays to diagnosis, lack of confirmation of the diagnosis with spirometry, lack of holistic assessment, lack of attention to smoking cessation, variable adherence to management guidelines, delayed implementation of appropriate interventions, under-recognition of patients at higher risk of adverse outcomes, high hospitalisation rates for exacerbations and poor implementation of palliative care. Understanding that these problems exist and considering how and why they occur is fundamental to developing solutions to improve the diagnosis and management of patients with COPD.

GOLD 2023 Update: Implications for Clinical Practice

In 2022, over 3 million people died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the global burden of the disease is expected to increase over the coming decades. Recommendations for the treatment and management of patients with COPD are published by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, and updated annually with scientific evidence-based recommendations. The 2023 updates, published in November 2022, contain key changes to recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of COPD that are anticipated to have a significant impact on clinical practice for patients with COPD. Updates to how COPD is defined and diagnosed, including the expansion of contributing factors beyond tobacco use, have the potential to lead to the diagnosis of more patients and to allow for the implementation of early interventions for patients during early stages of the disease. Simplification of the treatment algorithms, and placement of triple therapy within these algorithms, will support clinicians in providing appropriate, timely treatment for patients with COPD with a focus on reducing the risk of future exacerbations. Finally, recognition of mortality reduction as a treatment goal in COPD supports an increase in the use of triple therapy, the only pharmacological intervention that has been demonstrated to improve survival for patients with COPD. Although further guidance and clarification are needed in some areas, such as use of blood eosinophil counts in guiding treatment decisions and implementation of treatment protocols following hospitalizations, recent updates to the GOLD recommendations will support clinicians in addressing current gaps in patient care. Clinicians should utilize these recommendations to drive the early diagnosis of patients with COPD, the identification of exacerbations, and the selection of appropriate, timely treatments for patients.

Healthcare Resource Utilization, Cost and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Diagnosed with COPD Initiating Tiotropium Bromide/Olodaterol versus Fluticasone Furoate/Umeclidinium/Vilanterol Based on Exacerbation History

Background

ATS and GOLD guidelines recommend treating low-exacerbation risk COPD patients with dual (LAMA/LABA) agents and reserving triple therapy (TT; LAMA/LABA and inhaled corticosteroids [ICS]) for severe cases with higher-exacerbation risk. However, TT often is prescribed across the COPD spectrum. This study compared COPD exacerbations, pneumonia diagnosis, healthcare resource utilization, and costs for patients initiating tiotropium bromide/olodaterol (TIO/OLO) and a TT, fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI), stratified by exacerbation history.

Methods

COPD patients who initiated TIO/OLO or FF/UMEC/VI between 06/01/2015-11/30/2019 (index date=first pharmacy fill-date with ≥30 consecutive treatment days) were identified from the Optum Research Database. Patients were ≥40 years old and continuously enrolled for 12 months during the baseline period and ≥30 days during follow-up. Patients were stratified into GOLD A/B (0-1 baseline non-hospitalized exacerbation), No exacerbation (subset of GOLD A/B), and GOLD C/D (≥2 non-hospitalized and/or ≥1 hospitalized baseline exacerbation). Baseline characteristics were balanced with propensity score matching (1:1). Adjusted risks of exacerbation, pneumonia diagnosis, and COPD and/or pneumonia-related utilization and costs were evaluated.

Results

Adjusted exacerbation risk was similar in GOLD A/B and No exacerbation subgroups, and lower in GOLD C/D for FF/UMEC/VI versus TIO/OLO initiators (hazard ratio: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.78, 0.98, p=0.020). Adjusted pneumonia risk was similar between cohorts across the GOLD subgroups. Adjusted COPD and/or pneumonia-related population annualized pharmacy costs were significantly higher for FF/UMEC/VI versus TIO/OLO initiators across subgroups, p<0.001. Adjusted COPD and/or pneumonia-related population annualized total healthcare costs were significantly higher for FF/UMEC/VI versus TIO/OLO initiators in the GOLD A/B and No exacerbation, subgroups, p<0.001 (cost ratio [95% CI]: 1.25 [1.13, 1.38] and 1.21 [1.09, 1.36], respectively), but similar in the GOLD C/D subgroup.

Conclusion

These real-world results support ATS and GOLD recommendations for treating low-exacerbation risk COPD patients with dual bronchodilators and TT for more severe, higher-exacerbation risk COPD patients.

Costs and Clinical Consequences of Compliance with COPD GOLD Recommendations or National Guidelines Compared with Current Clinical Practice in Belgium, Germany, Sweden, and the United States

Purpose

The objective of this study was to assess the clinical and cost benefits of treating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) according to global and national guidelines compared to real-life clinical practice in the United States and three European countries (Belgium, Germany, Sweden).

Patients and Methods

A cost-consequence model was developed to compare current prescribing patterns with two alternative scenarios, the first aligned with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD 2022) recommendations and the second with national guidelines. Costs and clinical outcomes were modeled for these alternative scenarios over a time horizon of one year, based on real-world evidence and health insurance data.

Results

Current clinical practice in each of the countries was inconsistent with published recommendations. A redistribution to prescribing patterns according to global and national recommendations led to a substantial decrease in the use of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) containing therapies of more than 80% and 44%, respectively. There was a reduced incidence of up to 16% of mild-to-moderate pneumonia and up to 29% of severe pneumonia. Exacerbations decreased across all countries apart from Sweden, where a small increase in the rate of exacerbations was due to the redistribution of some patients currently undergoing inhaled triple therapy to non-ICS-containing therapies. Adapting treatment to recommendations could provide potential cost savings of up to 13% in estimated annual direct costs, resulting predominantly from the reduction in cost of healthcare resource use, including hospitalization associated with treating incident pneumonia, particularly severe pneumonia. Cost savings for prevalent adult patients with COPD on long-acting inhaler therapy ranged from €31 to €675 per patient per year.

Conclusion

Redistribution of COPD patients from current clinical practice to treatment according to published recommendations would provide clinical benefits and substantial cost savings.

Quality Standard Position Statements for Health System Policy Changes in Diagnosis and Management of COPD: A Global Perspective

Introduction

Despite being a leading cause of death worldwide, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is underdiagnosed and underprioritized within healthcare systems. Existing healthcare policies should be revisited to include COPD prevention and management as a global priority. Here, we propose and describe health system quality standard position statements that should be implemented as a consistent standard of care for patients with COPD.

Methods

A multidisciplinary group of clinicians with expertise in COPD management together with patient advocates from eight countries participated in a quality standards review meeting convened in April 2021. The principal objective was to achieve consensus on global health system priorities to ensure consistent standards of care for COPD. These quality standard position statements were either evidence-based or reflected the combined views of the panel.

Results

On the basis of discussions, the experts adopted five quality standard position statements, including the rationale for their inclusion, supporting clinical evidence, and essential criteria for quality metrics. These quality standard position statements emphasize the core elements of COPD care, including (1) diagnosis, (2) adequate patient and caregiver education, (3) access to medical and nonmedical treatments aligned with the latest evidence-based recommendations and appropriate management by a respiratory specialist when required, (4) appropriate management of acute COPD exacerbations, and (5) regular patient and caregiver follow-up for care plan reviews.

Conclusions

These practical quality standards may be applicable to and implemented at both local and national levels. While universally applicable to the core elements of appropriate COPD care, they can be adapted to consider differences in healthcare resources and priorities, organizational structure, and care delivery capabilities of individual healthcare systems. We encourage the adoption of these global quality standards by policymakers and healthcare practitioners alike to inform national and regional health system policy revisions to improve the quality and consistency of COPD care worldwide.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12325-022-02137-x.

Relationship of COPD Exacerbation Severity and Frequency on Risks for Future Events and Economic Burden in the Medicare Fee-For-Service Population

Purpose

To quantify the effects of moderate and/or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations on future exacerbations and healthcare costs in Medicare Fee-For-Service beneficiaries.

Patients and Methods

A retrospective cohort study of patients ≥40 years of age, with continuous enrollment from 2015 to 2018, with an index COPD diagnosis defined as first hospitalization, emergency department visit, or first of two outpatient visits (≥30 days apart) in 2015 with a claim for chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or chronic airway obstruction. Patients were stratified by baseline exacerbation categories in year one (YR1) and subsequently evaluated in YR2 and YR3: (A) none; (B) 1 moderate; (C) ≥2 moderate; (D) 1 severe; and (E) ≥2, one being severe. Moderate exacerbations were defined as COPD-related outpatient/ED visits with a corticosteroid/antibiotic claim within ±7 days of the visit and severe exacerbations as hospitalizations with a primary COPD diagnosis. Total all-cause costs for Categories B-E were compared to reference Category A using generalized linear models and inflation adjusted to 2019 dollars.

Results

A total of 1,492,108 patients met study criteria with a mean (±SD) age of 70.9±10.9. In YR1, nearly 40% of patients experienced ≥1 moderate and/or severe exacerbations. Patients having multiple exacerbations, regardless of severity were 2-4 times more likely to experience an exacerbation during YR2 and YR3. Adjusted costs ranged between $24,000 and $26,600 for all categories for YR2 and YR3. Adjusted YR2 costs for Category D and E were $1421 and $1548 higher than those without an exacerbation (Category A YR2 $25,084, YR3 $24,282; p<0.0001). The respective YR3 adjusted costs were $2062 and $2117 higher than those without an exacerbation (Category A; p<0.0001), representing an increase of 6-8% and 8-9% for YR2 and YR3.

Conclusion

Medicare patients with recent moderate or severe exacerbations, or at least two exacerbations per year are at significant risk for future exacerbations and incur higher all-cause costs.

Effectiveness of Nationwide COPD Pay-for-Performance Program on COPD Exacerbations in Taiwan

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It has also imposed a substantial economic and social burden on the health care system. In Taiwan, a nationwide COPD pay-for-performance (P4P) program was designed to improve the quality of COPD-related care by introducing financial incentives for health care providers and employing a multidisciplinary team to deliver guideline-based, integrated care for patients with COPD, reducing adverse outcomes, especially COPD exacerbation. However, the results of a survey of the effectiveness of the pay-for-performance program in COPD management were inconclusive. To address this knowledge gap, this study evaluated the effectiveness of the COPD P4P program in Taiwan.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study used data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance claims database and nationwide COPD P4P enrollment program records from June 2016 to December 2018. Patients with COPD were classified into P4P and non-P4P groups. Patients in the P4P group were matched at a ratio of 1:1 based on age, gender, region, accreditation level, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and inhaled medication prescription type to create the non-P4P group. A difference-in-difference analysis was used to evaluate the influence of the P4P program on the likelihood of COPD exacerbation, namely COPD-related emergency department (ED) visit, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, or hospitalization.

Results

The final sample of 14,288 patients comprised 7144 in each of the P4P and non-P4P groups. The prevalence of COPD-related ED visits, ICU admissions, and hospitalizations was higher in the P4P group than in the non-P4P group 1 year before enrollment. After enrollment, the P4P group exhibited a greater decrease in the prevalence of COPD-related ED visits and hospitalizations than the non-P4P group (ED visit: −2.98%, p<0.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.277 to −0.086; hospitalization: −1.62%, p<0.05, 95% CI: −0.232 to −0.020), whereas no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of the changes in the prevalence of COPD-related ICU admissions.

Conclusion

The COPD P4P program exerted a positive net effect on reducing the likelihood of COPD exacerbation, namely COPD-related ED visits and hospitalizations. Future studies should examine the long-term cost-effectiveness of the COPD P4P program.