Impact of cough and mucus on COPD patients: primary insights from an exploratory study with an Online Patient Community

Development of a disease-specific health utility score for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from a discrete choice experiment patient preference study

OBJECTIVES

While patient input to health technology assessment (HTA) has traditionally been of a qualitative nature, there is increasing interest to integrate quantitative evidence from patient preference studies into HTA decision making. Preference data can be used to generate disease-specific health utility data. We generated a health utility score for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and consider its use within HTAs.

METHODS

Based on qualitative research, six symptoms were identified as important to COPD patients: shortness of breath, exacerbations, chronic cough, mucus secretion, sleep disturbance, and urinary incontinence. We employed a discrete choice experiment (DCE) and the random parameter logistic regression technique to estimate utility scores for all COPD health states. The relationship between patients' COPD health utility scores, self-perceived COPD severity, and EQ-5D-3L utility scores was analyzed, with data stratified according to disease severity and comorbidity subgroups.

RESULTS

The COPD health utility score had face validity, with utility scores negatively correlated with patients' self-perceived COPD severity. The correlation between the COPD health utility scores and EQ-5D-3L values was only moderate. While patient EQ-5D-3L scores were impacted by comorbidities, the COPD health utility score was less impacted by comorbid conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our COPD utility measure, derived from a DCE, provides a patient-centered health utility score and is more sensitive to the COPD health of the individual and less sensitive to other comorbidities. This disease-specific instrument should be considered alongside generic health-related quality of life instruments when valuing new COPD therapies in submissions to licensing and reimbursement agencies.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Long-Term Macrolide Therapy for COPD in Stable Status: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent condition with fewer treatments available as the severity increases. Previous systematic reviews have demonstrated the benefits of long-term macrolide use. However, the therapeutic differences between different macrolides and the optimal duration of use remain unclear. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the effectiveness of long-term macrolide use in reducing COPD exacerbations, compare the therapeutic differences among macrolides, and determine the appropriate treatment duration. Four databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ICHU-SHI) were searched until 20 March 2023, and a random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled effect. Results: The meta-analysis included nine randomized controlled trials involving 1965 patients. The analysis revealed an odds ratio (OR) of 0.34 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.19, 0.59, p < 0.001) for the reduction in exacerbation frequency. Notably, only azithromycin or erythromycin showed suppression of COPD exacerbations. The ORs for reducing exacerbation frequency per year and preventing hospitalizations were -0.50 (95% CI: -0.81, -0.19; p = 0.001) and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.3, 0.97; p = 0.04), respectively. Statistical analyses showed no significant differences between three- and six-month macrolide prescriptions. However, studies involving a twelve-month prescription showed an OR of 0.27 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.68; p = 0.005; I2 = 81%). Although a significant improvement in St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total scores was observed with a mean difference of -4.42 (95% CI: -9.0, 0.16; p = 0.06; I2 = 94%), the minimal clinically important difference was not reached. While no adverse effects were observed between the two groups, several studies have reported an increase in bacterial resistance. Conclusions: Long-term use of azithromycin or erythromycin suppresses COPD exacerbations, and previous studies have supported the advantages of a 12-month macrolide prescription over a placebo.

Prospects for macrolide therapy of asthma and COPD

Macrolide compounds, many of which are derived from natural sources, all share a lactone ring structure, but of varying sizes. Their biological activities differ with structure and size but tend to overlap. Marketed macrolide drugs include immunosuppressives and antibiotics. Some of the latter have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory activities, due to direct effects on inflammatory cells and processes when used for respiratory infections. Consequently, azithromycin is included in clinical guidelines for COPD and asthma treatment, though it has the disadvantage, as an antibiotic, of increasing bacterial resistance. COPD and asthma, however, like several chronic inflammatory diseases involving other organs, are driven to a large extent by epithelial barrier dysfunction. Recently, azithromycin was shown to directly enhance epithelial barrier function and a new class of derivatives, barriolides, is under development with the lead indication COPD. It is thus likely that by circumventing antibiosis and acting on a crucial etiological disease process, this type of agent will open up a new, safer approach to COPD and asthma therapy with macrolides.

Performance of the Cough and Sputum Assessment Questionnaire (CASA-Q) in COPD: Evidence from Clinical and Online Patient Interaction Studies

Introduction

Patient perception of the burden of chronic bronchitis symptoms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be assessed using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). The Cough and Sputum Assessment Questionnaire (CASA-Q) was developed and tested for this purpose. This study reviewed the performance of the CASA-Q in published online studies and tested a novel approach to complement traditional methods of qualitative content validation.

Methods

A targeted literature search was performed to identify published clinical studies of COPD using the CASA-Q as an endpoint. The performance of the questionnaire was examined in relation to other study endpoints, including clinical and functional measurements and other PROMs. Assessment of the content validity of the CASA-Q was carried out by comparing the content and structure of the questionnaire with published qualitative patient data from previously conducted online social media listening (SML) and online bulletin board (OBB) studies.

Results

In the interventional clinical trials, CASA-Q change scores were consistent with study objectives and other endpoints, including FEV₁ and other PROMs. Two observational studies showed cross-sectional correlations with other PROMs like the St.-George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and COPD assessment test (CAT) scores. Qualitative data from the SML and OBB patient studies were consistent with the content and structure of the CASA-Q, supporting the content validity of the measure.

Conclusion

Results suggest that the CASA-Q is appropriately responsive to changes in cough and sputum symptoms and clinical impact in trials of COPD. The mapping of qualitative findings from online SML and OBB studies to CASA-Q domains and items confirm the content validity of the instrument. These results suggest the CASA-Q can be a valuable tool for evaluating treatment effect in COPD trials.

People living with Moderate-to-Severe COPD Prefer Improvement of Daily Symptoms Over the Improvement of Exacerbations: A Multi-Country Patient Preference Study

Introduction

This patient preference study sought to quantify the preferences of people living with COPD regarding symptom improvement in the UK, USA, France, Australia and Japan.

Methods

The inclusion criteria were people living with COPD aged 40 years or older who experienced ≥1 exacerbation in the previous year with daily symptoms of cough and excess mucus production. The study design included: 1) development of an attributes and levels grid through qualitative patient interviews; and 2) implementation of the main online quantitative survey, which included a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to allow assessment of attributes and levels using hypothetical health state profiles. Preference weights (utilities) were derived from the DCE using hierarchical Bayesian analysis. A preference simulator was developed that enabled different health state scenarios to be evaluated based on the predicted patient preferences.

Results

1050 people living with moderate-to-severe COPD completed the survey. All attributes were considered important when patients determined their preferences in the DCE. In a health state preference simulation, two hypothetical health states (comprising attribute levels) with qualitatively equivalent improvements in A) cough and mucus and B) shortness of breath (SOB) resulted in a clear preference for cough and mucus improved profile. When comparing two profiles with C) daily symptoms improved and D) exacerbations improved, there was a clear preference for the daily symptoms improved profile.

Conclusions

People living with moderate-to-severe COPD prefer to reduce cough and mucus production together over improvement of SOB and would prefer to reduce combined daily symptoms over an improvement in exacerbations.

There is a need for symptom-focused therapies to deliver meaningful outcomes for people living with COPDhttps://bit.ly/3KqcSur

Microscopic observation of human airway ciliary movement using wheat germ agglutinin

Ciliated cells in the airway epithelium generate mucus streams to remove extraneous particles and microorganisms by beating the motile cilia. This defense mechanism is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and preventing infection in the airway. Conventional methods to assess ciliary beating have revealed that rapid (>10 times per second) and metachronal beating of cilia enables efficient mucus transport. Cilia are oriented to excrete mucus toward the outside of the body. However, conventional methods to directly observe ciliary movements uses transmitted light, which requires translucent samples. Sliced or fragmented tissues are used to observe ciliary movements in thick human airway tissues. Therefore, conventional methods are unsuitable for assessing in situ orientation of ciliary movements. The orientation of ciliary beating can be indirectly analyzed by tracking particles spread onto the epithelium; however, the particles are not efficiently transported by immature cilia. To address this issue, we developed a method for labeling airway motile cilia with fluorescently labeled wheat germ agglutinin (FL-WGA). The new method enables microscopic observation of ciliary movements without slicing or fragmenting the airway tissues. Since the airway epithelium is observed from the apical side, in situ orientation of ciliary beating can be analyzed using this method. Additionally, epithelial damage, and the number and maturity of cilia can be assessed during the observation of ciliary beating. The new method, in combination with other methods, can provide more comprehensive data regarding ciliary movements.

The novel bronchodilator navafenterol: a phase 2a, multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial in COPD

Background

Navafenterol (AZD8871) belongs to a new class of bronchodilator, the single-molecule muscarinic antagonist and β-agonist, developed for the treatment of COPD. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, pharmacokinetics and safety of navafenterol versus placebo and an active comparator treatment for moderate-to-severe COPD.

Methods

This phase 2a, randomised, multicentre (Germany and UK), double-blind, double-dummy, three-way complete crossover study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03645434) compared 2 weeks’ treatment of once-daily navafenterol 600 µg via inhalation with placebo and a fixed-dose combination bronchodilator (umeclidinium/vilanterol (UMEC/VI); 62.5 µg/25 µg) in participants with moderate-to-severe COPD. The primary outcome was change from baseline in trough forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) on day 15. Secondary end-points included change from baseline in peak FEV₁; change from baseline in Breathlessness, Cough and Sputum Scale (BCSS); change from baseline in COPD Assessment Tool (CAT); adverse events; and pharmacokinetics.

Results

73 participants were randomised. After 14 days, trough FEV₁ was significantly improved with navafenterol compared with placebo (least-squares (LS) mean difference 0.202 L; p<0.0001). There was no significant difference in FEV₁ between navafenterol and UMEC/VI (LS mean difference −0.046 L; p=0.075). COPD symptoms (CAT and BCSS) showed significantly greater improvements with both active treatments versus placebo (all p<0.005). Novel objective monitoring (VitaloJAK) showed that cough was reduced with both active treatments compared with placebo. Safety profiles were similar across the treatment groups and no serious adverse events were reported in the navafenterol treatment period.

Conclusion

Once-daily navafenterol was well tolerated, improved lung function and reduced COPD-related symptoms, similar to an established once-daily fixed-dose combination bronchodilator.

Navafenterol, a novel dual-pharmacology bronchodilator for COPD, improved lung function, reduced COPD symptoms and decreased objective cough counts, to a similar extent to umeclidinium/vilanterolhttps://bit.ly/3lV886y

"A Major Quality of Life Issue": A Survey-Based Analysis of the Experiences of Adults With Laryngotracheal Stenosis with Mucus and Cough

Objectives:

To investigate how the symptoms of mucus and cough impact adults living with laryngotracheal stenosis, and to use this information to guide future research and treatment plans.

Methods:

A survey was developed with the support of patient advisors and distributed to people suffering with laryngotracheal stenosis. The survey comprised 15 closed and open questions relating to mucus and cough and included the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ). Descriptive statistics, X² and thematic analyses were completed.

Results:

In total, 641 participants completed the survey, with 83.62% (n = 536) reporting problems with mucus; 79% having daily issues of varying severity that led to difficulties with cough (46.18%) and breathing (20.90%). Mucus affected voice and swallowing to a lesser degree. Respondents described a range of triggers; they identified smoky air as the worst environmental trigger. Strategies to manage mucus varied widely with drinking water (72.26%), increasing liquid intake in general (49.35%) and avoiding or reducing dairy (45.32%) the most common approaches to control symptoms. The LCQ showed a median total score of 14 (interquartile range 11-17) indicative of cough negatively affecting quality of life. Thematic analysis of free text responses identified 4 key themes—the Mucus Cycle, Social impact, Psychological impact, and Physical impact.

Conclusion:

This study shows the relevance of research focusing on mucus and cough and its negative impact on quality of life, among adults with laryngotracheal stenosis. It demonstrates the inconsistent advice and management strategies provided by clinicians for this issue. Further research is required to identify clearer treatment options and pathways.

High 24-Hour Respiratory Symptoms and Low Physical Activity in the Stable COPD Romanian Cohort of SPACE Study

Objective

This study assessed the characteristics and the relationship between symptoms in any part of the 24-hour (24-h) day, physical activity level (PAL), and other clinical and functional outcomes in stable COPD patients.

Patients and Methods

Out of the 2162 patients enrolled in the SPACE study (The Symptoms and Physical Activity in COPD patients in Europe, clinicaltrials.gov NCT03031769), 406 (18.8%) were recruited from Romania. Here, we present the Romanian cohort results. Eligible patients were adults with age at least 40 years, confirmed diagnosis of stable COPD, current or former smokers with a smoking history of minimum 10 pack-years. The 24-h respiratory symptoms were assessed using Early Morning Symptoms of COPD Instrument (EMSCI), Evaluating Respiratory Symptoms in COPD (E-RS™: COPD) and Nighttime Symptoms of COPD Instrument (NiSCI). During clinical interview, patients self-evaluated PAL through Exercise as Vital Sign (EVS) and Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS). Physicians assessed PAL through their clinical judgment.

Results

For each combination of 2 between the early morning (EM), daytime (DT) and night-time (NT) symptoms of the 24-h day, there was a significant association (p < 0.001 for each). All symptoms significantly correlated with exacerbation history (p < 0.001 for EM and NT, p=0.002 for DT), and number of severe exacerbations (p < 0.001 for DT, p=0.001 for EM and p=0.026 for NT, respectively). The 24-h symptoms correlated negatively and significantly with PAL (p < 0.001), irrespective of the assessment used. Self-reported PAL negatively correlated with dyspnea, symptom burden, severity of disease and number of exacerbations (p < 0.001). Patients spent an average (standard deviation) of 25.8 (21.0) hours/week performing physical activity. Physicians overestimated their patients' daily PAL.

Conclusion

A negative and significant correlation between the 24-h day symptoms and PAL was identified in stable COPD patients. Physicians need to routinely assess PAL using adequate tools and start educating inactive COPD patients to optimize their disease outcomes.

Contemporary perspectives in COPD: Patient burden, the role of gender and trajectories of multimorbidity

An individual's experience of COPD is determined by many factors in addition to the pathological features of chronic bronchitis and emphysema and the symptoms that derive directly from them. Multimorbidity is the norm rather than the exception, so most people with COPD are living with a range of other medical problems which can decrease overall quality of life. COPD is caused by the inhalation of noxious particles or gases, in particular tobacco smoke, but also by early life disadvantage impairing lung development and by occupations where inhaled exposures are common (e.g. industrial, farming and cleaning work). Wealthy people are therefore relatively protected from developing COPD and people who do develop the condition may have reduced resources to cope. COPD is also no longer a condition that predominantly affects men. The prevalence of COPD among women has equalled that of men since 2008 in many high-income countries, due to increased exposure to tobacco, and in low-income countries due to biomass fuels. COPD is one of the leading causes of death in women in the USA, and death rates attributed to COPD in women in some countries are predicted to overtake those of men in the next decade. Many factors contribute to this phenomenon, but in addition to socioeconomic and occupational factors, there is increasing evidence of a higher susceptibility of females to smoking and pollutants. Quality of life is also more significantly impaired in women. Although most medications (bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids) used to treat COPD demonstrate similar trends for exacerbation prevention and lung function improvement in men and women, this is an understudied area and clinical trials frequently have a preponderance of males. A better understanding of gender-based predictors of efficacy of all therapeutic interventions is crucial for comprehensive patient care. There is an urgent need to recognize the increasing burden of COPD in women and to facilitate global improvements in disease prevention and management in this specific population. Many individuals with COPD follow a trajectory of both lung function decline and also multimorbidity. Unfavourable lung function trajectories throughout life have implications for later development of other chronic diseases. An enhanced understanding of the temporal associations underlying the development of coexisting diseases is a crucial first step in unravelling potential common disease pathways. Lessons can be learned from exploring disease trajectories of other NCD as well as multimorbidity development. Further research will be essential to explain how early life risk factors commonly influence trajectories of COPD and other diseases, how different diseases develop in relation to each other in a temporal way and how this ultimately leads to different multimorbidity patterns in COPD. This review integrates new knowledge and ideas pertaining to three broad themes (i) the overall burden of disease in COPD, (ii) an unappreciated high burden in women and (iii) the contrast of COPD trajectories and different multimorbidity patterns with trajectories of other NCD. The underlying pathology of COPD is largely irreversible, but many factors noted in the review are potentially amenable to intervention. Health and social care systems need to ensure that effective treatment is accessible to all people with the condition. Preventive strategies and treatments that alter the course of disease are crucial, particularly for patients with COPD as one of many problems.

Prioritization and Refinement of Patient-Informed Value Elements as Attributes for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Treatment Preferences

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Formative research studies can inform stated-preference instrument development to quantify the importance of various attributes of healthcare treatments. The objective of this study was to elicit from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease the prioritization of an established set of patient-informed value elements.

METHODS

Using an iterative mixed-methods study design, we engaged individuals living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Phase 1 value element elicitation and Phase 2 language refinement. Study participants were recruited from March to July 2019. Four guided activities, administered in an online instrument, elicited individual preferences for 40 disease-agnostic value elements that were aligned with treatment, outcomes, or care process. Responses from the guided activities were summarized and then presented to a patient advocate and additional patient participants for further refinement of the value elements and the phrasing.

RESULTS

Twenty-three participants, 18 male and five female, mean age of 66 years (standard deviation = 7) were enrolled in Phase 1. Participant responses informed the selection of eight elements as the key candidates for the Phase 2 language refinement: Side Effects, New Therapeutic Option, Available Treatment, Appropriateness of Care, Predictable Healthcare Needs, Physical Activities: Endurance and Symptom Control, and Explanation of Treatment. With feedback from a patient advocate and additional patient participants, elements were refined, rephrased, or modified and this list was narrowed to six value elements (Side Effects, New Therapeutic Option, Willingness to Pay, Physical Activities, Explanation of Treatment, and Access to Care) to serve as attributes in a conceptual framework for a future quantitative stated-preference instrument.

CONCLUSIONS

This patient-engaged formative work identified patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease key attributes of value-based decision making that underpin benefit-risk trade-offs between physical endurance, treatment side effects, care access, and cost. This study illustrates an iterative process for eliciting and refining a comprehensive list of value elements, resulting in a subgroup of elements important to a specific patient population.

Extra-pulmonary manifestations of COPD and the role of pulmonary rehabilitation: a symptom-centered approach

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex and heterogenous disease that is associated with a range of respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms, which highly contribute to the daily burden of the disease. Symptoms burden remains high despite optimal bronchodilator therapy, but pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an effective intervention to improve patients' symptoms. A comprehensive interdisciplinary approach within the framework of a PR program is warranted to tackle these complex symptoms and their consequences. Areas covered: This narrative review describes how symptoms of dyspnea, fatigue, cough, sputum, anxiety, depression, pain, sleep disturbances, and cognitive decline arise in COPD and can contribute to several non-pulmonary manifestations of the disease. It also describes evidence of the effectiveness of interdisciplinary PR programs to counteract these symptoms. A literature search was performed on PubMed and Scopus between June and July 2020. Expert opinion: Respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms are highly prevalent, often not comprehensively assessed, and result in several extra-pulmonary manifestations of the disease (physical, emotional and social). Interdisciplinary PR programs can improve these negative manifestations through different pathways, contributing for an effective symptoms' management. A thorough assessment of symptoms (beyond dyspnea) should be routinely performed and may support the identification of treatable traits, allowing the tailoring of PR interventions and assessment of their real-life impact.

Identification of Patient Needs and Preferences in Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis (PVNS) Using a Qualitative Online Bulletin Board Study

Introduction

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS), also known as giant-cell tumour of the tendon sheath (GCTT), is a rare, benign proliferative tumour affecting the inner lining of synovial joints and tendon sheets. Information on treatment needs of PVNS patients to inform drug development is currently scarce. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study with PVNS patients to generate insights into the objective and emotional aspects related to their medical journey and experiences of living with this disease.

Methods

A 4-day study using an online bulletin board (OBB), an asynchronous, online qualitative research platform, was conducted with patients recruited via physician referral who underwent screening questions to ensure eligibility for the study and willingness to participate. The discussion was moderated, was structured and allowed open answers in response to other participants’ posts.

Results

Eleven patients (4 from the USA, 4 from the UK and 3 from Canada; 45% female), aged 28–57 years, suffering from PVNS for 2–27 years participated in the study. Key patient insights from the study were: (1) pain was the topmost, spontaneous thought that the participants associated with PVNS, constituting a significant emotional and psychological burden; (2) surgery (arthroscopy) did not completely ameliorate symptoms associated with PVNS, as the relapse rate was high in these patients; (3) PVNS has a substantial negative financial impact on patients, their families and the healthcare system; (4) orthopaedic specialists/surgeons predominantly managed PVNS, as surgery is currently the only therapeutic option.

Conclusion

PVNS patients expressed an urgent need for a medical drug treatment, which can reduce pain, avoid relapses and provide an alternative to surgery, the current standard of care.

Electronic Supplementary Material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s12325-020-01364-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

COPD Patients' Experience of Long-Term Domestic Oxygen-Enriched Nasal High Flow Treatment: A Qualitative Study

Little is known about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients experience with home-based health treatments, which are currently rapidly evolving. A previous randomized controlled trial investigated the use of long-term oxygen enriched high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) treatment at home. The aim of this study was to explore COPD patients' experience using home HFNC treatment. Patients in this qualitative study were included from the previous RCT. All patients used long-term oxygen therapy and HFNC, the latter as a primarily nocturnal add-on. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews focused on four themes: 'Description of daily use', 'Experienced changes', 'Treatment benefits and disadvantages' and 'User-friendliness'. The interviewer played an encouraging, non-normative neutral facilitator role in order to give the participants possibility to explain themselves as fully as possible. Participants were recruited until themes were saturated. A total of 12 patients (5 males, 7 females) and 8 relatives participated. Six themes were identified as important to patient adherence: Perceived lower work of breathing; reduced symptoms; improved quality of sleep; increased activity of daily living; feeling safe; technology use. The results increase our knowledge of patient experience of using HFNC for home treatment, which improved the patients' experience through reducing symptoms and increase the activity of daily living. Furthermore, they substantiate the necessity of perceived usefulness and ease of use as important factors for adherence to treatment.

Gathering Structured Patient Insight to Drive the PRO Strategy in COPD: Patient-Centric Drug Development from Theory to Practice

We illustrate our experience of gathering patient insights on the most patient-relevant symptoms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) via a structured and systematic approach towards ‘patient-centric’ drug development, leveraging recent advances in digital technologies using online platforms. The four-step approach comprised the following: literature search, social media listening (SML) study, online bulletin board (OBB) exercise, and design of an online patient preference study (PPS). The initial online studies (SML and OBB) revealed that, besides dyspnoea and exacerbations, patients perceive cough and mucus production as equally important aspects of disease management for COPD. To further build and quantify patients’ understanding of the importance of these symptoms, an online patient preference survey is underway. Based on these findings, we have elected to include the Cough and Sputum Assessment Questionnaire or CASA-Q, a validated instrument to collect patient-reported outcomes (PRO), besides the use of the COPD assessment test or CAT to assess the severity and impact of COPD in drug development studies for COPD. Additionally, to capture movement and sleep disturbance, we consider the inclusion of actigraphy as a digital evidence-capture end point. Lastly, in a phase II trial, a survey questionnaire on incontinence will be administered to evaluate the importance of this issue among patients. We believe that integrating insights derived from “online” studies (SML, OBB, and PPS) into drug development offers an opportunity to truly listen to patients’ voices in early product design ensuring relevance of end points selected for the clinical trial program. This approach also has the potential to complement conventional qualitative and quantitative data collection requirements for PRO instrument development. While awaiting final guidance from the US Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, the recently released draft documents on collecting representative patients’ input reference social media as a tool to collect qualitative patient preference data and these developments suggest that patient preference data can influence future clinical trial design, end point selection, and regulatory reviews.

Funding: Novartis Pharma AG, Basel.