Figures & data
Figure 1 Study design. Any nBUD regimen is defined as nBUD monotherapy, sequential therapy (ie, initiated with nBUD at hospitalization and later switched to SCS), and sequential-combination therapy (initiated with nBUD at hospitalization and later combined with SCS). Any SCS regimen is defined as SCS monotherapy, sequential therapy (ie, initiated with SCS at hospitalization and later switched to nBUD), and sequential-combination therapy (initiated with SCS at hospitalization and later combined with nBUD).
Abbreviations: nBUD, nebulized budesonide; SCS, systemic corticosteroids.
Table 1 Patient characteristics
Table 2 Total medical expenditure analysis in patients who received any treatment regimen
Figure 2 Median total medical expenditure per capita (IQR) in hospitalized patients with AECOPD. Expenditure given in Chinese Yuan (¥).
Abbreviations: AECOPD, acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; nBUD, nebulized budesonide; IQR, interquartile range; SCS, systemic corticosteroids.
Table 3 Total medical expenditure analysis in patients who received monotherapy
Table 4 Total medical expenditure analysis in patients with or without respiratory failure
Table S1 Affiliations of the local ethics committees
Table S2 List of investigators and their affiliations