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Inhaled Corticosteroids With/Without Long-Acting β-Agonists Reduce the Risk of Rehospitalization and Death in COPD Patients

  • Original Research Article
  • Published:
American Journal of Respiratory Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: In patients with COPD who have recently been hospitalized for their disease, we examined whether treatment with inhaled corticosteroids without or with long-acting β-adrenoceptor agonists (β-agonists) reduced rehospitalization and mortality.

Study design: Retrospective cohort analysis in the UK General Practice Research Database.

Methods: We compared rehospitalization for a COPD-related medical condition or death within 1 year after first hospitalization, in 3636 COPD patients receiving prescriptions for inhaled corticosteroids or long-acting β-agonists compared with 627 reference patients with COPD who were prescribed short-acting bronchodilators only.

Results: Rehospitalization within a year occurred in 13.2% of the reference COPD patients, 14.0% of users of long-acting β-agonists only, 12.3% of users of inhaled corticosteroids only, and 10.4% of users of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β-agonists. Death within a year occurred in 24.3% of the reference COPD patients, 17.3% of users of long-acting β-agonists only, 17.1% of users of inhaled corticosteroids only, and in 10.5% of users of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β-agonists. In multivariate analyses the risk of rehospitalization or death was reduced by 10% in users of long-acting β-agonists only (NS), by 16% in users of inhaled corticosteroids only, and by 41% in users of combined inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β-agonists (both p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Use of inhaled corticosteroids with/without long-acting β-agonists was associated with a reduction of rehospitalization or death in COPD patients.

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Acknowledgements

J. B. Soriano and V. A. Kiri are currently employees of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) R&D. No other conflict of interest should be observed in this research. The study was funded by GSK R&D.

Presented first at the American Thoracic Society International Conference, Atlanta, USA, 17–22 May, 2002.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Worldwide Epidemiology, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Greenford Road, Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 0HE, UK

    Joan B. Soriano & Victor A. Kiri

  2. Health Promotion Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

    Joan B. Soriano

  3. Thoracic Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK

    Neil B. Pride

  4. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hvidovre University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Jørgen Vestbo

Authors
  1. Joan B. Soriano
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  2. Victor A. Kiri
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  3. Neil B. Pride
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  4. Jørgen Vestbo
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Correspondence to Joan B. Soriano.

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Soriano, J.B., Kiri, V.A., Pride, N.B. et al. Inhaled Corticosteroids With/Without Long-Acting β-Agonists Reduce the Risk of Rehospitalization and Death in COPD Patients. Am J Respir Med 2, 67–74 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03256640

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