title: Observational study on the impact of initiating tiotropium alone versus tiotropium with fluticasone propionate/salmeterol combination therapy on outcomes and costs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This retrospective cohort study compared the risks of exacerbations and COPD-related healthcare costs between patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) initiating tiotropium (TIO) alone and patients initiating triple therapy with fluticasone-salmeterol combination (FSC) added to TIO.
  
  
  METHODS
  Managed-care enrollees who had an index event of ≥ 1 pharmacy claim for TIO during the study period (January 1, 2003-April 30, 2008) and met other eligibility criteria were categorized into one of two cohorts depending on their medication use. Patients in the TIO+FSC cohort had combination therapy with TIO and FSC, defined as having an FSC claim on the same date as the TIO claim. Patients in the TIO cohort had no such FSC use. The risks of COPD exacerbations and healthcare costs were compared between cohorts during 1 year of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample comprised 3333 patients (n = 852 TIO+FSC cohort, n = 2481 TIO cohort). Triple therapy with FSC added to TIO compared with TIO monotherapy was associated with significant reductions in the adjusted risks of moderate exacerbation (hazard ratio 0.772; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.641, 0.930) and any exacerbation (hazard ratio 0.763; 95% CI 0.646, 0.949) and a nonsignificant reduction in COPD-related adjusted monthly medical costs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Triple therapy with FSC added to TIO compared with TIO monotherapy was associated with significant reductions in the adjusted risks of moderate exacerbation and any exacerbation over a follow-up period of up to 1 year. These improvements were gained with triple therapy at roughly equal cost of that of TIO alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. achatter@wfubmc.edu
authors.forename: Arjun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: Manan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Anna O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.forename: Benno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bechtel
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crater
authors.forename: Anand A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Dalal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000420:Albuterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D000068297:Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000068297:Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives; D000420:Albuterol; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide