Risk of all-cause hospitalization in COPD patients initiating long-acting or short-acting beta agonist therapy

Medication management patterns among Medicare beneficiaries with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who initiate nebulized arformoterol treatment

Purpose: Global evidence-based treatment strategies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) recommend using long-acting bronchodilators (LABDs) as maintenance therapy. However, COPD patients are often undertreated. We examined COPD treatment patterns among Medicare beneficiaries who initiated arformoterol tartrate, a nebulized long-acting beta2 agonist (LABA), and identified the predictors of initiation. Methods: Using a 100% sample of Medicare administrative data, we identified beneficiaries with a COPD diagnosis (ICD-9 490-492.xx, 494.xx, 496.xx) between 2010 and 2014 who had ≥1 year of continuous enrollment in Parts A, B, and D, and ≥2 COPD-related outpatient visits within 30 days or ≥1 hospitalization(s). After applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, three cohorts were identified: (1) study group beneficiaries who received nebulized arformoterol (n=11,886), (2) a subset of the study group with no LABD use 90 days prior to initiating arformoterol (n=5,542), and (3) control group beneficiaries with no nebulized LABA use (n=220,429). Logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of arformoterol initiation. Odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and p values were computed. Results: Among arformoterol users, 47% (n=5,542) had received no LABDs 90 days prior to initiating arformoterol. These beneficiaries were being treated with a nebulized (50%) or inhaled (37%) short-acting bronchodilator or a systemic corticosteroid (46%), and many received antibiotics (37%). Compared to controls, beneficiaries who initiated arformoterol were significantly more likely to have had an exacerbation, a COPD-related hospitalization, and a pulmonologist or respiratory therapist visit prior to initiation (all p<0.05). Beneficiaries with moderate/severe psychiatric comorbidity or dual-eligible status were significantly less likely to initiate arformoterol, as compared to controls (all p<0.05). Conclusion: Medicare beneficiaries who initiated nebulized arformoterol therapy had more exacerbations and hospitalizations than controls 90 days prior to initiation. Findings revealed inadequate use of maintenance medications, suggesting a lack of compliance with evidence-based treatment guidelines.

Individualizing the selection of long-acting bronchodilator therapy for patients with COPD: considerations in primary care

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common condition encountered in primary care settings. COPD remains the third leading cause of death in the United States and carries a significant burden to both patients and the healthcare system. COPD is a chronic, progressive, irreversible lung disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. Proper assessment and diagnosis requires spirometry which is currently underutilized in primary care. Management is focused on adequate symptom control, improving quality of breathing and quality of life, and preventing exacerbations and hospitalizations. However, many patients are not receiving long-acting bronchodilator maintenance therapy as recommended in current clinical guidelines. Even when patients receive appropriate therapy, real-world issues such as a patient's health literacy, physical and cognitive limitations, and therapy nonadherence limit the effectiveness of prescribed inhaled medications. Primary care providers are well situated to ensure that prescribed therapies and long-term management goals are matched to the individual needs of patients with COPD.

Guiding Principles for the Use of Nebulized Long-Acting Beta2-Agonists in Patients with COPD: An Expert Panel Consensus

Determining which patients with COPD may benefit from a nebulized long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) is a challenge in current practice. In the absence of strong clinical guidelines addressing this issue, an expert panel convened to develop guiding principles for the use of nebulized LABA therapy in patients with COPD. This article summarizes these guiding principles and other practical issues discussed during a roundtable meeting.

Exacerbations, health services utilization, and costs in commercially-insured COPD patients treated with nebulized long-acting β2-agonists

OBJECTIVE

This retrospective cohort study compared exacerbations, health services utilization, and costs among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who received nebulized arformoterol or nebulized formoterol therapy.

METHODS

Using PharMetrics Plus health plan claims, 417 nebulized long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) users meeting the study inclusion criteria were identified: had ≥2 fills of nebulized arformoterol or nebulized formoterol from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2011, adhered to using their index drug ≥60% of the days during 1 year post-index, were ≥35 years old and continuously enrolled 180 days pre- and 1 year post-index, and did not use a nebulized LABA or have an asthma diagnosis during the pre-index period. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 274 nebulized arformoterol users and 143 nebulized formoterol users were identified with comparable demographic characteristics. However, significant differences were observed between the two groups in some clinical characteristics at index including comorbidities and use of antibiotics. At 1 year post-index, a lower proportion of nebulized arformoterol users had ≥1 exacerbation compared to nebulized formoterol users (70.4% vs 80.4%; p = 0.028). Among patients with ≥1 hospital admission, COPD-related costs per inpatient stay were significantly lower for nebulized arformoterol users than nebulized formoterol users (median = $9542 vs $14,025; p = 0.009). After controlling for confounders, nebulized arformoterol users had 19% marginally lower risk of exacerbations than nebulized formoterol users (hazard ratio = 0.81, 95% confidence interval = 0.64-1.03; p < 0.084) and 14.4% marginally lower COPD-related total costs at 1 year post-index (p = 0.062), primarily related to fewer hospital readmissions (7.6% vs 12.2%) and lower average costs per readmission stay (median = $7392 vs $18 081; p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the choice of nebulized LABA may influence COPD-related exacerbation occurrence and costs. Future studies with larger and more closely matched nebulized arformoterol and nebulized formoterol users are needed to confirm these findings.