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Comparative cost-effectiveness of a fluticasone-propionate/salmeterol combination versus anticholinergics as initial maintenance therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Original Research

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Authors: Anand A Dalal, Melissa H Roberts, Hans V Petersen, et al

Published Date December 2010 Volume 2011:6 Pages 13 - 22
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S15455

Anand A Dalal1, Melissa H Roberts2, Hans V Petersen2, Christopher M Blanchette3, Douglas W Mapel4
1US Health Outcomes, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC; 2Division of Clinical and Outcomes Research, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM; 3Kannapolis, North Carolina; 4Lovelace Clinic Foundation, Albuquerque, NM, USA

Purpose: Relative costs and utilization-related outcomes of a fluticasone propionate 250 µg + salmeterol 50 µg combination (FSC), tiotropium bromide, and ipratropium as initial maintenance therapy in COPD have not been compared in a commercially-insured population.
Methods: This retrospective, observational cohort study used health care claims data from January 2004 to June 2009 from a large administrative database for patients aged ≥40 years with COPD. Time-to-first COPD-related health care event beginning 30 days following therapy initiation with FSC (n = 16,684), ipratropium alone or in fixed dose combination with albuterol (n = 14,449), or tiotropium (n = 12,659) was estimated using Cox proportional hazard models that controlled for differences in patient demographic characteristics, health care utilization, and comorbidities at baseline. Mean adjusted costs and numbers of COPD-related health care encounters and prescription medication fills were compared among patients with 12 months of follow-up (FSC, n = 12,595; ipratropium, n = 10,617; tiotropium, n = 9126).
Results: With FSC as the reference, risk for a COPD-related hospitalization and/or emergency department visit was significantly higher for ipratropium (hazard ratio [HR] 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.50–1.79) and tiotropium (HR 1.29, CI 1.17–1.41). Mean adjusted 12-month COPD-related total health care costs were lower for FSC ($2068, standard deviation [SD] $1190) than for ipratropium ($2841, SD $1858) and tiotropium ($2408, SD $1511, both P < 0.05). Mean number of COPD-related hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and outpatient visits associated with an oral corticosteroid or antibiotic were also lower for FSC than for ipratropium and tiotropium (all P < 0.05).
Conclusions: In this retrospective “real-world” observational sample of COPD patients, initiating treatment with FSC was associated with significantly better clinical and economic outcomes compared with short- and long-acting anticholinergic therapy. Consistent with the goal of preventing and reducing exacerbations advocated by global guidelines, the findings suggest that initiation of maintenance treatment with FSC may afford clinical benefits at a lower cost than anticholinergic treatment.

Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Advair®, tiotropium, ipratropium, utilization, costs




 

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Burden of COPD in a government health care system: a retrospective observational study using data from the US Veterans Affairs population
Clinical and economic outcomes for patients initiating fluticasone propionate/salmeterol combination therapy (250/50 mcg) versus anticholinergics in a comorbid COPD/depression population
Cost trends among commercially insured and Medicare Advantage-insured patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 2006 through 2009
Direct costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among managed care patients
Severity of COPD at initial spirometry-confirmed diagnosis: data from medical charts and administrative claims
The role of fluticasone propionate/salmeterol combination therapy in preventing exacerbations of COPD
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