title: Socioeconomic Variations in Use of Prescription Medicines for COPD: A Register-Based Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to examine socioeconomic variations in the use of prescription medicines among elderly subjects with COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the Danish national administrative registers were used. The study population included 1,365 individuals >60 y old residing in the Municipality of Copenhagen and diagnosed with COPD in a hospital setting in 2007. Logistic regression analysis was applied to examine the associations between the use of all prescription medicines for obstructive pulmonary diseases and the use of long-acting bronchodilators, in subject groups of different socioeconomic position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study demonstrated that approximately 90% of subjects with COPD purchased at least one prescription medicine for obstructive pulmonary diseases, whereas approximately 50% purchased a long-acting bronchodilator. Medicine use did not vary according to educational status or personal wealth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no systematic socioeconomic differences in the use of relevant prescription medicines in elderly subjects diagnosed with COPD in hospital settings in Copenhagen. However, our findings indicate a gap between guideline recommendations and observed use of long-acting bronchodilators and hence suboptimal quality of treatment in the elderly COPD population.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit for Dietary Studies, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg University Hospital, Frederiksberg, Denmark. ramune.jacobsen@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Ramune
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ekholm
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Niels K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ebba Holme
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Research Unit for Chronic Conditions, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frølich
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003718:Denmark; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012042:Registries; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents
keywords: COPD; Denmark; bronchodilators; elderly; medicine; registries; socioeconomic factors