Outcomes associated with tiotropium use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
BACKGROUND
To date, there is mixed evidence on the safety and effectiveness of tiotropium. Our objective was to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of regimens containing tiotropium bromide vs other medication regimens for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in real-world clinical settings.


METHODS
We conducted a cohort study on 2 separate cohorts with a diagnosis of COPD in the Veterans Affairs health care system. Patients with a diagnosis of COPD prescribed tiotropium and patients in a historic cohort prior to the introduction of tiotropium were selected for comparison using propensity scores, with the base case including scores from 0.1 to 0.4. Outcomes identified during follow-up were all-cause mortality, COPD exacerbations, and COPD hospitalizations. Exposure to COPD medication regimens was defined in a time-varying manner and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to evaluate outcomes.


RESULTS
For 42 090 patients in the base case, the regimen of tiotropium + inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) + long-acting beta-agonists (LABA) was associated with 40% reduced risk of death (hazard ratio [HR], 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45-0.79) compared with ICS + LABA. This combination was associated with reduced rates of COPD exacerbations (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73-0.97) and COPD hospitalizations (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.62-0.98). Tiotropium in combination with 2 other medications was associated with increased risk of mortality, exacerbations, and hospitalizations.


CONCLUSIONS
When used with ICS and LABA, tiotropium use was associated with a decreased risk of mortality compared with treatment with ICS and LABA. However, this result was not consistent in other medication regimens that included tiotropium [corrected].
Lee
Todd A
TA
Center for Management of Complex Chronic Care, Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois, USA. toddlee@uic.edu
Wilke
Caitlyn
C
Joo
Min
M
Stroupe
Kevin T
KT
Krishnan
Jerry A
JA
Schumock
Glen T
GT
Pickard
A Simon
AS
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide; D014728:Veterans
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide