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Abstract
Background and objective
The overprescription of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in the current Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) group A and B patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not uncommon in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to explore the factors associated with the use of ICS in these patients.
Methods
The Taiwan obstructive lung disease (TOLD) study was a retrospective, observational nationwide survey of COPD patients conducted at 12 hospitals (n=1,096) in Taiwan. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore the predictors of ICS prescription in GOLD group A and B patients.
Results
Among the group A (n=179) and group B (n=398) patients, 198 (34.3%) were prescribed ICS (30.2% in group A and 36.2% in group B, respectively). The wheezing phenotype was present in 28.5% of group A and 34.2% of group B patients. Wheezing was the most significant factor for an ICS prescription in group A (odds ratio [OR], 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14–4.75; P=0.020), group B (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.24–2.99; P=0.004), and overall (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.40–2.96; P<0.001). The COPD assessment test score was also associated with an ICS prescription in group B (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00–1.07; P=0.038).
Conclusion
About one-third of the GOLD group A and B patients with COPD in Taiwan are prescribed ICS. Our findings suggest that wheezing and COPD assessment test score are related to the prescription of ICS in these patients.
Acknowledgments
The TOLD study received financial support from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Data management and statistical analysis were supported by the CRO service division of Formosa Biomedical Technology Corp.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.