Healthcare costs associated with initial maintenance therapy with fluticasone propionate 250 μg/salmeterol 50 μg combination versus anticholinergic bronchodilators in elderly US Medicare-eligible beneficiaries with COPD.
OBJECTIVE
To compare, in elderly Medicare beneficiaries, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-related healthcare costs for patients initiating treatment with fluticasone propionate/salmeterol 250 μg/50 μg (FSC) with those for patients initiating treatment with ipratropium bromide/albuterol (IPA), ipratropium bromide (IPR), and tiotropium bromide (TIO).


METHODS
In this retrospective, observational, cohort study, COPD-related medical costs (inpatient/emergency department, outpatient) and pharmacy costs were assessed in Medicare beneficiaries ≥ 65 years old who were enrolled in a commercial Medicare health maintenance organization plan and had a diagnosis of COPD (ICD-9-CM codes 491.xx, 492.xx, or 496.xx) within 12 months before initial treatment with FSC, IPA, IPR, or TIO.


RESULTS
In these ≥ 65-year-old patients (N=14,689), initial maintenance treatment with FSC was associated with total COPD-related cost savings (medical + pharmacy) of $295 versus IPA, $1,235 versus IPR, and $110 versus TIO (p<0.05, each comparison) over a 1-year follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
Initiation of maintenance therapy with FSC was associated with significant reduction in total costs (medical + pharmacy) relative to costs associated with the short-acting anticholinergic bronchodilators IPR and IPA and the long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilator TIO in an elderly Medicare-eligible population. These data considered in the context of the substantial efficacy and effectiveness data suggest that early introduction of maintenance treatment with FSC has both clinical and economic benefits. Limitations inherent in handling of administrative data include lack of objective clinical measures such as spirometry and smoking status. Furthermore, accuracy of diagnosis codes cannot be verified.
Dalal
Anand A
AA
GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
Petersen
Hans
H
Simoni-Wastila
Linda
L
Blanchette
Christopher M
CM
D000368:Aged; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000191:economics; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D009241:Ipratropium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide; D014481:United States
D000730:Androstadienes; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D000068298:Fluticasone; D009241:Ipratropium; D000420:Albuterol; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide