Factors affecting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-related costs: a multivariate analysis of a Swedish COPD cohort

Abstract

Methods: A cohort of 179 subjects with COPD was interviewed over the telephone on four occasions about their annual use of COPD-related resources. The data set and the explanatory variables were analysed by means of multivariate regression techniques for six different types of cost: societal (or total), direct (health care) and indirect (productivity), and three subcomponents of direct costs -hospitalisation, outpatient, and medication.Results: Poor lung function, dyspnoea and asthma were independently associated with higher costs. Poor lung function (severity of COPD) significantly increased all six examined cost types. Dyspnoea (breathing problems) also did this, though to a varying extent. The presence of reported asthma increased total, direct, outpatient and medication costs. Conclusions:Poor lung function and, to a lesser extent, extent of dyspnoea and concomitant asthma, were all strongly associated with higher COPD-related costs. Strong efforts should be made to prevent the progression of COPD and its symptoms.Word count: 178

Burden of Exacerbations in Patients with Moderate to Very Severe COPD in the Netherlands: A Real-life Study

“…An earlier study found signifi cantly higher hospitalization costs among patients with FEV 1 values <40% compared to patients with FEV 1 values >80% (28). As length of hospital stay is the main driver for hospitalization costs, this is comparable with our fi nding.…”

The economic burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the elderly

“…productivity loss) were estimated in only two studies. Table 1 [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] summarizes the details of the selected articles.…”

“…Conversely, age groups 80-85 and more than 85 years were found to determine a lower number of hospitalizations. Two studies did not report any positive association between age and costs [9,16]. In particular, Gerdtham et al [9] elaborated six different regression models to determine risk factors of both direct and indirect costs.…”

“…Two studies did not report any positive association between age and costs [9,16]. In particular, Gerdtham et al [9] elaborated six different regression models to determine risk factors of both direct and indirect costs. Being in older age groups did not predict total costs and direct costs, whereas age groups 70-75 and more than 76 years were at lower risk to induce indirect costs, compared with age group less than 63 years (both P < 0.01).…”

“…Neither of the two studies assessed indirect costs in monetary terms. In the first study, a cohort observation carried out in Sweden [9], age was negatively associated with indirect costs, with the patients aged 70-75 years and 76 years and over generating lower costs than people aged 63 years or less. The second study, carried out in Spain by de Miguel Diez et al [13], found a marked decline in annual days of disability leave with increasing age.…”