1
|
Zader JA, Jörres RA, Mayer I, Alter P, Bals R, Watz H, Mertsch P, Rabe KF, Herth F, Trudzinski FC, Welte T, Kauczor HU, Behr J, Walter J, Vogelmeier CF, Kahnert K. Effects of triple therapy on disease burden in patients of GOLD groups C and D: results from the observational COPD cohort COSYCONET. BMC Pulm Med 2024; 24:103. [PMID: 38424530 PMCID: PMC10905841 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-02902-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Randomized controlled trials described beneficial effects of inhaled triple therapy (LABA/LAMA/ICS) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and high risk of exacerbations. We studied whether such effects were also detectable under continuous treatment in a retrospective observational setting. METHODS Data from baseline and 18-month follow-up of the COPD cohort COSYCONET were used, including patients categorized as GOLD groups C/D at both visits (n = 258). Therapy groups were defined as triple therapy at both visits (triple always, TA) versus its complement (triple not always, TNA). Comparisons were performed via multiple regression analysis, propensity score matching and inverse probability weighting to adjust for differences between groups. For this purpose, variables were divided into predictors of therapy and outcomes. RESULTS In total, 258 patients were eligible (TA: n = 162, TNA: n = 96). Without adjustments, TA patients showed significant (p < 0.05) impairments regarding lung function, quality of life and symptom burden. After adjustments, most differences in outcomes were no more significant. Total direct health care costs were reduced but still elevated, with inpatient costs much reduced, while costs of total and respiratory medication only slightly changed. CONCLUSION Without statistical adjustment, patients with triple therapy showed multiple impairments as well as elevated treatment costs. After adjusting for differences between treatment groups, differences were reduced. These findings are compatible with beneficial effects of triple therapy under continuous, long-term treatment, but also demonstrate the limitations encountered in the comparison of controlled intervention studies with observational studies in patients with severe COPD using different types of devices and compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Zader
- Berlin School of Public Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rudolf A Jörres
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Imke Mayer
- Institute of Public Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- PreMeDICaL, Inria Montpellier, IDESP, Montpellier, France
| | - Peter Alter
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Medical Center Giessen and Marburg, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany, Marburg, Germany
| | - Robert Bals
- Department of Internal Medicine V - Pulmonology, Allergology, Respiratory Intensive Care Medicine, Saarland University Hospital, Kirrberger Straße 1, 66424, Homburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Saarland University Campus, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Henrik Watz
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Pulmonary Research Institute at Lung Clinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North, Woehrendamm 80, 22927, Grosshansdorf, Germany
| | - Pontus Mertsch
- Department of Medicine V, Comprehensive Pneumology Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr.1, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Klaus F Rabe
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Pulmonary Research Institute at Lung Clinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North, Woehrendamm 80, 22927, Grosshansdorf, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Zu Kiel, 24098, Kiel, Germany
| | - Felix Herth
- Thoraxklinik-Heidelberg gGmbH, Röntgenstraße 1, 69126, Heidelberg, Germany
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Translational Lung Research Centre Heidelberg (TLRC), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Franziska C Trudzinski
- Thoraxklinik-Heidelberg gGmbH, Röntgenstraße 1, 69126, Heidelberg, Germany
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Translational Lung Research Centre Heidelberg (TLRC), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tobias Welte
- Department of Pneumology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Kauczor
- Department of Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Behr
- Department of Medicine V, Comprehensive Pneumology Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr.1, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Walter
- Department of Medicine V, Comprehensive Pneumology Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr.1, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Claus F Vogelmeier
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Medical Center Giessen and Marburg, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany, Marburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Kahnert
- Department of Medicine V, Comprehensive Pneumology Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr.1, 80336, Munich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|