Effects of GOLD-Adherent Prescribing on COPD Symptom Burden, Exacerbations, and Health Care Utilization in a Real-World Setting.

ABSTRACT: Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines recommend specific drug therapy protocols for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients based on symptoms and exacerbation risk. This study used electronic health records (EHRs) to assess the effect of adherence and nonadherence to GOLD prescribing guidelines on COPD symptom burden, exacerbations, and health care resource utilization (HCRU) during the 180 days following index treatment start. Included patients had COPD (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] codes 490.xx, 491.xx, 492.xx, 496.xx), a valid GOLD stage within the study period (January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2012), and were 40 to 90 years of age at first GOLD staging (GOLD date). Adherence or

SUBMITTER: Mannino DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5556885 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature