title: Study on drug costs associated with COPD prescription medicine in Denmark.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spirometric studies of the general population estimate that 430 000 Danes have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is mainly caused by smoking, and smoking cessation is the most important intervention to prevent disease progression. Cost-of-illness studies conclude that the costs associated with COPD in Denmark are significant, but costs of prescription medicine for COPD were not analysed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the societal costs associated with prescription medicine for COPD in Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was designed as a nationwide retrospective register study of the drug costs (ATC group R03) associated with COPD in the period 2001-2010. Data were retrieved from the Prescription Database, the National Patient Register and the Centralised Civil Register. The population comprised individuals (40+ years) who had at least one prescription of selected R03 drugs and who had been either hospitalised with a COPD diagnosis or had at least one prescription for drugs primarily used for COPD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population comprised 166 462 individuals of which 97 916 were alive on 31 December 2010. The average annual drug costs (R03) were DKK 7842 (EUR 1055) per patient in 2010 with total costs of DKK 685 million (EUR 92 million). The average lifetime costs associated with COPD prescription medicine were estimated to be DKK 70 000-75 000 (EUR 9416-10 089) per patient (2010 prices).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The costs associated with prescription medicine for COPD in Denmark are significant.
authors.affiliation: COWI A/S, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Anker
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dollerup
authors.forename: Peter Bo
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Poulsen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lange
mesh_terms: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013147:Spirometry
chemical_list: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents