International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2015
Budgetary impact analysis on funding smoking-cessation drugs in patients with COPD in Spain.
The aim of the study was to assess the budgetary impact of funding smoking-cessation drugs in COPD patients in Spain. A hybrid model (cohort and Markov) was developed for a 5-year time horizon. Only approved cessation drugs (varenicline, bupropion, and nicotine replacement therapy) were considered. ⋯ Accumulated total additional savings in 5 years (€4.3 million) compared with the scenario without reimbursement was shown. Sensitivity analyses supported the results robustness. Funding smoking-cessation drugs in COPD patients seems to be an efficient option and a National Health System drug reimbursement scheme would represent a cost-saving policy in Spain.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2015
Comparative StudyImpact of roflumilast on exacerbations of COPD, health care utilization, and costs in a predominantly elderly Medicare Advantage population.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations are associated with declining lung function and health-related quality of life, and increased hospitalization and mortality. Clinical trials often poorly represent the elderly and thus have only partial applicability to their clinical care. ⋯ In a predominantly elderly Medicare COPD population, newly initiated roflumilast patients displayed similar or significantly better unadjusted reductions in all exacerbation-related, COPD-related HCU-related, and COPD-related costs outcomes compared with non-roflumilast patients. These analyses also suggest better adjusted COPD-related costs and total exacerbations for roflumilast-initiated patients.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2015
Review Meta AnalysisEffectiveness of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction using unilateral endobronchial valve: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) can be suggested as an alternative for surgical lung volume reduction surgery for severe emphysema patients. This article intends to evaluate by systematic review the safety and effectiveness of BLVR using a one-way endobronchial valve. ⋯ BLVR may be an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of severe COPD patients with emphysema, based on existing studies.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudySelf-reported alcohol intake and risk of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective cohort study.
To evaluate the relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). ⋯ Among persons with COPD at high risk of exacerbation, we found no significant relationship between self-reported baseline alcohol intake and subsequent exacerbations. The number of patients reporting heavy alcohol intake was small and further study is needed to determine the effect of heavy alcohol intake on AECOPD risk.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2015
Multicenter Study Comparative Study Observational StudyIs a previous diagnosis of asthma a reliable criterion for asthma-COPD overlap syndrome in a patient with COPD?
Some patients share characteristics of both COPD and asthma. As yet, there is no gold standard to identify patients with the so-called asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS). ⋯ ACOS patients diagnosed on the basis of a previous diagnosis of asthma differed from the remaining COPD patients, but they were similar to ACOS patients diagnosed according to more restrictive criteria, suggesting that a history of asthma before the age of 40 years could be a useful criterion to suspect ACOS in a patient with COPD.