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Research Articles

Utilization of smoking-cessation pharmacotherapy among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer patients

, , , &
Pages 1043-1050 | Accepted 11 Dec 2013, Published online: 05 Feb 2014
 

Abstract

Objective:

Smoking is one of the major risk factors causing morbidity and mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer patients. Use of smoking cessation pharmacotherapy is an effective way to help quit smoking. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of smoking and the proportion of patients using smoking cessation agents, and to identify the socio-demographic factors that affect the use of these agents among COPD and lung cancer patients.

Research design and methods:

A retrospective study was done to identify smokers having COPD (ICD-9: 490–492) or lung cancer (ICD-9: 162), and those who use smoking cessation agents from 2006–2010, using Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data. A multiple logistic regression model was built to identify significant socio-demographic predictors associated with the use of smoking cessation agents.

Results:

Around 16.8% of COPD patients and 15.1% of lung cancer patients reported smoking after diagnosis. Out of the total smokers, 8.8% patients with COPD and 12.6% patients with lung cancer reported use of smoking cessation agents during the 5 year period. Logistic regression showed that odds for smoking cessation use in COPD patients were lower for Hispanics (OR = 0.107, 95% CI 0.023–0.502) and higher for patients having insurance coverage (OR = 3.453, 95% CI 1.240–9.617).

Conclusion:

Results showed that a large number of patients continued to smoke even after the diagnosis of COPD and lung cancer; whereas only a few among them used smoking cessation agents. Ethnicity disparities and insurance status were associated with the use of smoking cessation agents. Differential use among population sub-groups suggests a requirement for need based smoking cessation programs and appropriate prescription drug coverage. Further research needs to be done to evaluate reasons for disparities in smoking cessation agents’ use. The study had limitations common to research designs based on observational and self-reported datasets.

Transparency

Declaration of funding

The authors received no funding in preparation of this manuscript.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

V.V., M.H.-G., N.G., S.S., and R.B. have disclosed that they have no significant relationships with or financial interests in any commercial companies related to this study or article.

CMRO peer reviewers may have received honoraria for their review work. The peer reviewers on this manuscript have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Acknowledgments

We thank Neha Gangal from the division of Health Outcomes and Socio-economic Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Toledo for her assistance regarding preparing and reviewing this manuscript.

Previous presentation: Poster presentation at ISPOR 18th Annual International Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, 18–22 May 2013.

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