COPD, stage and treatment in a large outpatient clinic

TY - JOUR

T1 - COPD, stage and treatment in a large outpatient clinic

AU - Holm, Claire Præst

AU - Holm, Jakob

AU - Nørgaard, Annette

AU - Godtfredsen, Nina

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - Some COPD patients suffer from frequent exacerbations despite triple inhalation treatment. These frequent exacerbators should be identified, as exacerbations often lead to decreasing lung function and increasing mortality. Roflumilast reduces exacerbations in patients with a previous history of exacerbations. Our aim was to describe COPD patient characteristics and compare roflumilast treatment eligible to non-eligible patients. An observational cross-section study was conducted. Patients were included from a large COPD outpatient clinic. Information regarding COPD patient characteristics was registered on a standardized form and lung function was measured. Patients were categorized according to the GOLD classification. Eligibility for roflumilast treatment was assessed and patient characteristics compared between groups. 547 patients were included. Most patients (54%) were in GOLD group D. 62 patients (11.3%) met the criteria for treatment with roflumilast. Among the patients eligible for roflumilast treatment, only 14 patients (22.6%) were receiving treatment. There were no significant differences in FEV1, number of exacerbations, hospitalization due to exacerbation, MRC grade, age, smoking status and medication use between patients receiving roflumilast and not treated eligible patients. Our study documents low use of roflumilast treatment. In view of the established effect of roflumilast we think that this treatment should be considered more consistently as an option among COPD patients fulfilling the criteria for this therapy.

AB - Some COPD patients suffer from frequent exacerbations despite triple inhalation treatment. These frequent exacerbators should be identified, as exacerbations often lead to decreasing lung function and increasing mortality. Roflumilast reduces exacerbations in patients with a previous history of exacerbations. Our aim was to describe COPD patient characteristics and compare roflumilast treatment eligible to non-eligible patients. An observational cross-section study was conducted. Patients were included from a large COPD outpatient clinic. Information regarding COPD patient characteristics was registered on a standardized form and lung function was measured. Patients were categorized according to the GOLD classification. Eligibility for roflumilast treatment was assessed and patient characteristics compared between groups. 547 patients were included. Most patients (54%) were in GOLD group D. 62 patients (11.3%) met the criteria for treatment with roflumilast. Among the patients eligible for roflumilast treatment, only 14 patients (22.6%) were receiving treatment. There were no significant differences in FEV1, number of exacerbations, hospitalization due to exacerbation, MRC grade, age, smoking status and medication use between patients receiving roflumilast and not treated eligible patients. Our study documents low use of roflumilast treatment. In view of the established effect of roflumilast we think that this treatment should be considered more consistently as an option among COPD patients fulfilling the criteria for this therapy.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1080/20018525.2017.1267470

DO - 10.1080/20018525.2017.1267470

M3 - Letter

C2 - 28326174

SN - 2001-8525

VL - 4

JO - European Clinical Respiratory Journal

JF - European Clinical Respiratory Journal

IS - 1

M1 - 1267470

ER -