COPD management costs according to the frequency of COPD exacerbations in UK primary care.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The economic burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations is significant, but the impact of other sources on the overall cost of COPD management is largely unknown. We aimed to estimate overall costs for patients experiencing none, one, or two or more exacerbations per year in the UK.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of prevalent COPD patients was identified in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink UK database. Patients with information recorded for at least 12 months before and after cohort entry date were included (first prevalent COPD diagnosis confirmed by spirometry on/after April 1, 2009). Patients were categorized as having none, one, or two or more moderate-to-severe COPD exacerbations in the 12 months after cohort entry and further

SUBMITTER: Punekar YS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3890403 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature