Trends in health care resource utilization and pharmacological management of COPD in Taiwan from 2004 to 2010

Figures & data

Table 1 Number and characteristics of enrolled COPD patients in each year

	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	P-value
Patient number	93,314	159,592	197,137	227,688	249,023	265,338	276,499
Average age, years	71.59±10.57	70.64±11.53	70.42±11.82	70.33±12.01	70.32±12.14	70.30±12.24	70.34±12.28	<0.001
Gender, %
Male	76.6	73.1	72.1	72.4	70.9	70.3	69.8	<0.001
Female	23.4	26.9	27.9	27.6	29.1	29.7	30.2
Number of newly enrolled patients	93,314	69,053	48,767	44,757	37,995	34,252	29,928
CCI of newly enrolled patients	1.9±1.41	2.39±1.82	2.4±1.82	2.41±1.85	2.4±1.84	2.4±1.85	2.44±1.9	<0.001

Note: Values indicate number of enrolled COPD patients or newly enrolled patients in each year, percentage of male or female gender, and mean ± standard deviation of average age or score unit of CCI.

Abbreviation: CCI, Charlson Comorbidity Index.

Figure 1 Descriptive analysis of the utilization of COPD medication.

Notes: (A) The annual cost for LAMA, LABA/ICS, SAMA, and/or SABA from 2004 to 2010. (B) The annual cost for ICS, LABA, and xanthines from 2004 to 2010.
Abbreviations: LAMA, long-acting muscarinic antagonist; LABA/ICS, fixed-dose combination of long-acting β2-agonist and inhaled corticosteroid; SAMA, short-acting muscarinic antagonist; SABA, short-acting β2-agonist; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; LABA, long-acting β2-agonist.

Figure 2 Descriptive analysis of the average cost per COPD patient.

Note: The average total medical cost, OPD cost, ED cost, and hospitalization cost per patient from 2004 to 2010.
Abbreviations: OPD, outpatient department; ED, emergency department.

Figure 3 Descriptive analysis of the health care resource utilization of COPD in Taiwan.

Note: The average number of OPD visits, ED visits, hospital admissions, and ICU admissions per patient from 2004 to 2010.
Abbreviations: OPD, outpatient department; ED, emergency department; ICU, intensive care unit.