Exacerbations in COPD patients treated with Inhaled Corticosteroids/Long-acting β₂ agonists combinations, switching to another combination drugs or inhaler device: A “real – world” study

Figures & data

Figure 1. An overview of the study design.

Notes: Long-acting β₂-adrenergic agonists (LABAs); inhaled corticosteroid (ICS); Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) code; Adrenergics in combination with corticosteroids or other drugs, excl. anticholinergics (ATC code R03AK).

Table 1. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population

	Non switchers	Switchers	p-value
N (%)	19,616 (91)	1,759 (9)
Males (n, %)	10,220 (52)	892 (51)	0.275
Age (mean ± SD)	67.2 ± 12.8	66.7 ± 12.3	0.115
Exacerbations pre-index date (n, %)	12,712 (65)	1,402 (80)	<0.001
Charlson comorbidity index (mean ± SD)	2.00 ± 1.31	2.12 ± 1.32	<0.001

Note: SD: Standard deviation.

Table 2. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population after matching

After matching	Non switchers	Switchers	p-value
N (%)	1,759	1,759
Males (n, %)	883 (50)	892 (51)	0.787
Age (mean ± SD)	66.4 ± 12.6	66.7 ± 12.3	0.617
Exacerbations pre-index date (n, %)	1,389 (80)	1,402 (80)	0.617
Charlson comorbidity index (mean ± SD)	2.11 ± 1.49	2.12 ± 1.32	0.833

Note: SD: Standard deviation.

Figure 2. Propensity score-matched populations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease patients treated with fixed-dose combination of Inhaled Corticosteroids/Long-acting β₂-adrenergic agonists, switchers to another medication device versus non switchers.

Notes: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); Long-acting β₂-adrenergic agonists (LABAs); inhaled corticosteroid (ICS); Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) 95% confidence intervals (CI); p-value (p).