Moderate and Severe Exacerbations and Healthcare Resource Utilization in Chinese Patients with COPD on Triple...

Despite receiving triple therapy (i.e., long-acting β₂-agonist + long-acting muscarinic antagonist + inhaled corticosteroid), patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) continue to experience exacerbations. This study aimed to investigate the moderate and severe annualized exacerbation rate (AER) and healthcare resource utilization of patients with COPD on triple therapy in China, addressing a significant evidence gap regarding the clinical and economic disease burden in this population.

This retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Chongqing Regional Electronic Health Record Database (2018-2022). Patients with COPD aged ≥ 40 years who had received ≥ 3 months of triple therapy during the 12-month baseline period were included. AER, COPD-related hospital visits, length of hospital stay and readmissions, and direct medical costs during the 12-month observation period were analyzed.

A total of 6393 patients with COPD on triple therapy were included in the study. Among patients with available data, 17.3% had blood eosinophil count of ≥ 300 cell/μL at baseline. The percentage of patients having at least one moderate and severe exacerbation during the observation period was 53.7%, with the moderate and severe AER (95% confidence interval) being 1.37 (1.32-1.42). The mean (standard deviation (SD)) numbers of outpatient, emergency room, and inpatient visit due to COPD were 6.1 (5.56), 0.4 (1.58), and 1.0 (1.64), respectively. The direct medical costs per patient per year were ¥14,208.7.

Our findings reveal a high disease burden among patients with COPD in China despite stable triple therapy, reflecting the high-risk clinical profile of these patients and supporting an ongoing need for improved management strategies.