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Costs of chronic bronchitis and COPD: a 1-year follow-up study
Marc Miravitlles1, Cristina Murio, Tina Guerrero
1Servei de Pneumologia, Institut Clínic de Pneumologia i Cirurgia Toràcica (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic i Provincial, Barcelona, Spain. marcm@separ.es
Insights
The annual direct medical cost for managing chronic bronchitis and COPD in Spain was $1,876 per patient. Severe COPD cases incurred nearly double the costs of mild cases, highlighting a significant healthcare burden.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Health Economics
Background:
- Chronic bronchitis and COPD represent a substantial public health challenge.
- Understanding the direct medical costs associated with these conditions is crucial for resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the total direct medical costs for managing chronic bronchitis and COPD in an ambulatory setting.
- To analyze these costs based on COPD severity.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, 1-year follow-up study involving 1,510 patients with chronic bronchitis and COPD across 268 general practices in Spain.
- Quantification of all direct medical costs related to respiratory disease.
- Cost analysis stratified by COPD severity (airflow obstruction).
Main Results:
- The global mean direct yearly cost was $1,876 per patient.
- Patients with COPD incurred an average cost of $1,760 annually.
- Severe COPD cases ($2,911) were nearly twice as costly as mild COPD cases ($1,484).
- Hospitalization (43.8%) and drug acquisition (40.8%) constituted the largest cost components.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first prospective data on direct medical costs for chronic bronchitis and COPD in community settings.
- COPD management in practice deviates from guideline recommendations.
- COPD poses a significant healthcare burden, expected to increase due to population aging and smoking.
- The direct medical costs of COPD are substantially higher than those of asthma.
Objective:
This study attempted to determine the total direct costs derived from the management of chronic bronchitis and COPD in an ambulatory setting through a prospective, 1-year, follow-up study.
Method:
A total of 1,510 patients with chronic bronchitis and COPD were recruited from 268 general practices located throughout Spain. Patients were followed up for 1 year. All direct medical costs incurred by the cohort and related to their respiratory disease were quantified. Costs were calculated for patients with confirmed COPD according to the degree of severity of airflow obstruction.
Results:
The global mean direct yearly cost of chronic bronchitis and COPD was $1,876. The cost generated by patients with COPD was $1,760, but the cost of severe COPD ($2,911) was almost double that of mild COPD ($1,484). Hospitalization costs represented 43.8% of costs, drug acquisition costs were 40.8%, and clinic visits and diagnostic tests represented only 15.4% of costs.
Conclusion:
This is the first prospective follow-up study on a large cohort of patients with chronic bronchitis and COPD aimed at quantifying direct medical costs under usual clinical practice in the community. Costs of chronic bronchitis and COPD were almost twofold those reported for asthma. Patterns of COPD management in the community differ from those recommended in guidelines. COPD represents a great health-care burden in developed countries, and aging of the population and continuing smoking habits predict that it will continue to do so in the future.